Malawi Shines in the Promotion of HIV Positive Workers’ Rights
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By Madalitso Kateta
HIV and AIDS workplace policies in Malawi are actively promoting the rights of workers living with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.
In the past, the pandemic was treated with the highest secrecy by workers that were living with the virus for fear of unfair dismissals and the stigma that came with the disclosure of one’s HIV positive status. But the situation has now changed in the country, following new government policies that encourage employers and government departments to come up with HIV and AIDS workplace policies.
The government of Malawi has been championing the initiative since 2004 by providing free antiretroviral treatment (ART), nutritional support and an additional allowance of MK 6000.00 (approximately 34 euros) to employees that are HIV positive.
According to Dr Mary Shawa, Principal Secretary in the Malawi Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC) responsible for HIV, AIDS and Nutrition, the initiative has not only helped to reduce costs that companies were incurring for the medical bills of their employees, but has also ended HIV and AIDS workplace stigma and discrimination.
“HIV and AIDS is not just a health issue, but also revolves around people’s rights both as citizens and employees, and companies need to put issues surrounding the pandemic at the top of their agenda,” says Shawa.
Among some companies that have promoted the rights and dignity of their employees living with HIV are Malawi’s only beverage bottling company, Bottling and Beverages Limited (BBL), and the Electricity Supply Commission of Malawi, which have managed to supply many of their positive staff with ART and nutritional support.
Apart from the two, there is also a grouping of corporate companies that have teamed up to protect the livelihoods of their employees, called the Malawi Business Coalition Against HIV/AIDS (MBCA).
The Malawi Defence Force and Police Service are additionally among the sectors that have achieved much in the promotion of the welfare and rights of their employees.
The National AIDS Commission (NAC) in Malawi says it is currently encouraging organisations to come up with strategic policies that can prolong the lives of their staff that are living with HIV.
“We are encouraging initiatives that are geared at promoting the rights and welfare of employees that are living with HIV,” says Biswick Mwale, Executive Director at NAC.
Malawi has over one million people living with HIV and AIDS. Most of them are workers getting a wage of less than MK 350.00 (approximately two euros) a day and cannot afford to make ends meet.
