World AIDS Day
Indonesia showcases progresses and achievements on promoting Non-Discriminatory Policies and HIV prevention programme at workplace
The ILO and the Ministry of Manpower have jointly established and implemented various programmes on HIV prevention at workplace aimed to achieve the three zeros in Indonesia: zero new HIV infections, zero AIDS-related deaths and zero discrimination.
9 December 2024
JAKARTA, Indonesia (ILO News) - In conjunction with the commemoration of this year’s World AIDS Day under the theme “Take the Rights Path”, the ILO in collaboration with the Ministry of Manpower conducted a hybrid seminar on 5 December in Jakarta. Attended by 400 participants offline and online, the seminar aimed to showcase progresses and achievements on promoting the rights to equal job opportunity for workers living with HIV made related to the Manpower Ministry’s Circulated Letter on Guidance Package on HIV Prevention at Workplace for all provincial labour offices and employers in Indonesia and its list as well as good practices on HIV prevention in South-West Papua.
The integration of HIV educational programmes at workplace into OSH programmes play an important role to advocate inclusive services and companies’ non-discriminatory policies and to better protect all workers, particularly key population with the high-risk.
dr Amarudin, Ministry of Manpower’s Coordinator of Institution of Occupational Health Service under the Directorate of Occupational Safety and Health (OSH)
The Ministry of Manpower’s Coordinator of Institution of Occupational Health Service under the Directorate of Occupational Safety and Health (OSH), dr Amarudin emphasized the importance of the World Day as an important moment to expand the collaboration among relevant partners. He also encouraged all partners to be actively involved in the tripartite’s efforts to eliminate stigma and discrimination against HIV/AIDS.
“The HIV prevention programme at workplace is part of the OSH programme to ensure the optimization of workers’ productivity. Thus, the integration of HIV educational programmes at workplace into OSH programmes play an important role to advocate inclusive services and companies’ non-discriminatory policies and to better protect all workers, particularly key population with the high-risk,” remarked dr Amarudin, adding that Indonesia would continue progressing with strong OSH programmes.
The ILO greatly appreciate the commitment of the Ministry of Manpower in tacking HIV pandemic and ... to strengthen the efforts to eliminate stigma and discrimination against people living with and affected by HIV/AIDS and fundamental rights at work will be respected.
Early Dewi Nuriana, ILO’s Programme Coordinator for HIV Prevention at Workplace
Appreciating the productive collaborations with Ministry of Manpower over the last three years, Early Dewi Nuriana, ILO’s Programme Coordinator for HIV Prevention at Workplace, highlighted the crucial role of the Ministry of Manpower in preventing and handling HIV/AIDS in the country.
“The ILO greatly appreciate the commitment of the Ministry of Manpower in tacking HIV pandemic and to ensure the achievement of the three Zeros: zero new HIV infections, zero AIDS-related deaths and zero discrimination. Various programmes have been conducted that have strengthened the efforts to eliminate stigma and discrimination against people living with and affected by HIV/AIDS and fundamental rights at work will be respected,” she stated.
To date, with support from the ILO, the Ministry of Manpower have implemented the following initiatives: HIV e-Learning programme, companies’ online registration on HIV/AIDS Award to Guidance on strengthening collaboration between companies and civil society organizations on HIV prevention at work, including Company Social Responsibility (CSR), support to HIV practitioners at workplace and National Action Plan on HIV Prevention 2024-2028.
Good practices from South-West Papua
The seminar highlighted the current good practices from South-West Papua which is known for its generalized population HIV epidemic level In Indonesia. As part of the implementation of the circulated letter on Guidance on HIV Prevention at Workplace to mobilize local partnerships between local government and companies to promote and allocate the investment on HIV prevention through OSH programme, the Province of South-West Papua has successfully foster the participation of its local companies and successfully has contributed the draft regulation in the forms of Governor Regulation on the integration of HIV prevention in the world of work.
“We hope to deliberate the Governor Regulation next year. This is an important step for our province as this will be the first regulation that has given special attention to HIV prevention programmes, particularly at workplace,” stated dr. Mavkren Juliana Kambuaya, Responsible Officer for HIV/AIDS and STD of South-West Papua Provincial Health, Population Control and Family Planning Office. “Sorong AIDS Commission City Office has also drafted the Workplace Working Group Team. Thus, we hope the registration of local companies from our province for HIV/AIDS Award would be increased.”
We hope to deliberate the Governor Regulation next year. This is an important step for our province as this will be the first regulation that has given special attention to HIV prevention programmes, particularly at workplace.
dr. Mavkren Juliana Kambuaya, Responsible Officer for HIV/AIDS and STD of South-West Papua Provincial Health, Population Control and Family Planning Office
Commenting on the initiatives to strengthen local partnerships, the representative of Vega Prime Hotel, Mario applauded the HIV socialization conducted by the local government in collaboration with Tifa Mandiri Foundation and the local health service. He was pleased with the positive responses given by the company to the advocacy as well as the voluntary counselling and testing programmes.
“We receive a comprehensive information about HIV/AIDS and the importance of the HIV education and prevention programmes. We also appreciated the referral service and care that can be utilized by our workers who are found HIV positive. This programme should be continued and the socialization should conducted regularly,” he said.
Similarly, Ardian from PT Ramayana Mall, the biggest mall in the South-West Papua Province, admitted that although the company has conducted monthly health test, the HIV awareness of their workers is still low. “We really gain an extensive benefit from the socialization programme conducted by the local government in collaboration with Tifa Mandiri Foundation. We also hope that this programme can be expanded to all our branches and should become a regular programme.”
Commenting on the collaboration with local companies, Deky Walgiarno, Director of Tifa Mandiri Foundation, explained that seven out of 10 companies have implemented HIV prevention programmes in Sorong City. “To date, these programmes have reached 999 workers of whom 493 are females. Those who are positive have already been referred to take ARV and the companies have also allowed them to continue working.”
In addition, the seminar examined the technical information on module of HIV e-Learning programme. The programme has been adopted by the Government of Indonesia and has now been funded and fully implemented by the government with a collaboration with OSH training providers, civil society organizations and HIV practitioners. In addition, the registered companies have funded their own e-learning programme, indicating that a continuity of HIV programme at workplace.
The seminar also revealed a progress on online registration for AIDS Award. In addition to more accessible, the data compiled in the online registration can be used to support the needs of resource mobilization documentation under the Ministry of Health through National AIDS Spending Assessment (NASA).