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At the moment HIV and Aids issues are governed by Statutory Instrument 202 of 1998 in the Labour Relations Act on HIV and Aids.
Nac national HIV and Aids coordinator in the workplace Ms Vimbai Mdege told Chronicle that the legislation on HIV and Aids in the workplace was outdated.
“We currently have Statutory Instrument 202 of 1998 (Labour Relations Act on HIV and Aids). The Instrument is now outdated and is being reviewed to align it with current developments and trends,” said Ms Mdege.
“Modalities for its implementation and enforcement will be taken into consideration during the review process.”
SI 202 of 1998 provides, among other things, that companies should put in place internal HIV and Aids educational and awareness programmes for workers. Companies are also not allowed to coerce their employees to undergo any form of HIV and Aids testing as a precondition to offer employment.
The employer is also not allowed to terminate employment for any worker on the basis of HIV status. One’s status remains confidential.
Ms Mdege said Nac was working with other stakeholders in sensitising company managers to develop and implement workplace policies.
Said Ms Mdege: “As the National Aids Council we are working with other partners in sensitisation of company managers so as to encourage them to develop and implement workplace policies. We are also in the process of establishing a private sector co-ordination body to ensure effective co-ordination and scale-up of private sector participation in the response,” she said.
“Labour inspectors in the Ministry of Labour are expected to monitor implementation of SI 202 through Statutory Instrument 64. However, there have been limitations in terms of financial and human resource capacities.”
The Minister of Labour and Social Services, Mrs Paurina Mpariwa, also challenged companies to take HIV and Aids issues seriously as they impacted negatively on workers’ performance levels.
More than one million people are living with HIV and Aids in the country. Effective workplace interventions are some of the measures of reducing the prevalence of the disease, which is at about 15 percent.
There has been concern that companies that fail to address HIV and Aids issues suffer loss of skilled labour, low production and reduced profits.
Other effects include continuous recruitment and training, increased absenteeism, increased expenditure on medical aid, cost of funerals and hiring costs, loss of organisational memory, low staff morale and decreased staff cohesion.
Zimbabwe, however, has earned regional commendation in its fight against HIV and Aids.
The country is a signatory to the Sadc regional Code on HIV and Aids and Employment and the International Labour Organisation Code of Practice on HIV and Aids and the World of Work.
Online Reporter