HIV test not a requirement for employment

LABOR CHIEF REITERATES

MANILA, Philippines—HIV testing cannot be a requirement for employment, Labor Secretary Marianito Roque said in a statement e-mailed to media outfits.

Citing Republic Act 8504 or the Philippine AIDS Prevention and Control Act of 1998, Roque said this constitutes discrimination against persons with HIV/AIDS which the law prohibits.

HIV (human immuno virus) and AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) have grabbed the headlines recently following reports of a jump in HIV/AIDS incidence among call-center workers. Other vulnerable groups include men having sex with men, people with multiple sex partners, and overseas Filipino workers.

To stem the increase, Roque said his department is intensifying its advocacy against the sexually transmitted disease, particularly in the workplace. He said he has instructed the Occupational Safety and Health Center (OSHC), which is mandated by the law to spearhead the advocacy, to intensify its efforts in reaching and informing workers on the dangers of risky behaviors that may lead to HIV/AIDS infection.

The labor chief also urged companies and establishments “to set up a strong and comprehensive HIV/AIDS policy and program that will deal with both prevention and elimination of discrimination of persons with HIV/AIDS.”

The latest figures from the Department of Health (DOH) indicated a sharp increase in the number of reported HIV and AIDS cases in the 25-34 age group.

RA 8504 also includes provisions that require HIV/AIDS education programs to be given in all government and private offices, as well as in communities.

Since 1998, OSHC has conducted advocacy, training, and information campaigns on occupational safety and health, including HIV/AIDS prevention and control in more than 200,000 companies. From January 2009 to January 2010, a total of 3,325 workers in 1,160 companies have attended such seminars. Copies of the HIV/AIDS primers are available at the OSHC main office in Quezon City and in their website. –Veronica Uy, INQUIRER.net