MCTU , HIVAIDS AND LABOUR
By Fazilla Tembo
Malawi is one the countries in southern Africa which has been hardly hit by HIVAIDS pandemic. It is estimated that almost 1 million people out the total of 12 million are living with the virus and one hundred and seventy thousand are in need of the treatment.
The scourge has not spared the workers in the various workplaces, be it in private or public sector they have been affected in either way.
Malawi Congress of Trade Union (MCTU Vice resident Luther Mambala explained that a number of workers have lost their relatives, friends, children, wives and husbands due to the disease.
Not only the workers being negatively affected by the disease, government too has lost manpower hence development has also been affected, he said.
In order to mitigate the problem both in private or public sector, a number of interventions have been put in place like ensuring that every workplace has HIVAIDS policy to assist in mitigation.
Mambala said with the support from National Aids Commission they have embarked on a campaign with all affiliates to have the policy in place so that issues like discrimination, treatment, care and support are done within the work place.
This is a headway for the Union interms of mitigation, we are going to share this with our friends from Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Swaziland, Namibia and South Africa at this meeting of Southern Africa Social Forum so that they should have knowledge on what MCTU is doing on HIVAIDS, he observed.
He added that the Union is in the process of having a legislation on HIVAIDS and workers to be included in the laws of Malawi.
The legislation would protect people who are positive from all sorts of discrimination and stigmatization, he said.
Workers who live positive life have been experiencing torture, sometimes sacked off from their workplace by their employers a situation which he said is against their act.
Mambala further said research is in progress in various ministries and private sector to see how many workers are positive so that support, care and treatment should be given.
He said proposals have been made to NAC to have consellors and testing equipment to be put in different places, this will be good for our employees to know their status.
By Fazilla Tembo
Malawi is one the countries in southern Africa which has been hardly hit by HIVAIDS pandemic. It is estimated that almost 1 million people out the total of 12 million are living with the virus and one hundred and seventy thousand are in need of the treatment.
The scourge has not spared the workers in the various workplaces, be it in private or public sector they have been affected in either way.
Malawi Congress of Trade Union (MCTU Vice resident Luther Mambala explained that a number of workers have lost their relatives, friends, children, wives and husbands due to the disease.
Not only the workers being negatively affected by the disease, government too has lost manpower hence development has also been affected, he said.
In order to mitigate the problem both in private or public sector, a number of interventions have been put in place like ensuring that every workplace has HIVAIDS policy to assist in mitigation.
Mambala said with the support from National Aids Commission they have embarked on a campaign with all affiliates to have the policy in place so that issues like discrimination, treatment, care and support are done within the work place.
This is a headway for the Union interms of mitigation, we are going to share this with our friends from Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Swaziland, Namibia and South Africa at this meeting of Southern Africa Social Forum so that they should have knowledge on what MCTU is doing on HIVAIDS, he observed.
He added that the Union is in the process of having a legislation on HIVAIDS and workers to be included in the laws of Malawi.
The legislation would protect people who are positive from all sorts of discrimination and stigmatization, he said.
Workers who live positive life have been experiencing torture, sometimes sacked off from their workplace by their employers a situation which he said is against their act.
Mambala further said research is in progress in various ministries and private sector to see how many workers are positive so that support, care and treatment should be given.
He said proposals have been made to NAC to have consellors and testing equipment to be put in different places, this will be good for our employees to know their status.
posted by Brenda Nglazi Zulu at 8:27 AM
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