The HIV/Aids Tribunal has announced that a new labour policy to end the discrimination of employees living with the virus is before the national Parliament.
On Tuesday, the Tribunal chief executive officer Anyumba Nyamwaya said discrimination is persisting and spreading at the workplace and must be stopped through a strong policy.
Nyamwaya said more workers with HIV have lost their jobs, their promotion denied, and their employment application turned down.
“This issue must be resolved, the policy is before Parliament and it will wipe all the tears that have been rolling down the cheeks of those with HIV and have in one way or another been discriminated at their workplace,” he said.
He said once passed by the national Assembly, the policy will be implemented and those with HIV will not worry at their work stations.
Addressing a press conference in Kisumu ahead of the World Aids Day to be marked on December 1, the CEO said the tribunal is working closely with workers unions.
“The tribunal is working with Cotu-Kenya and Federation of Kenya Employers so that workers with HIV are not discriminated upon,” he said.
He said the tribunal has conducted awareness creation and appealed to employers to discourage the rejection from employment of people with HIV positive status.
Nyamwaya said mindset and attitude change is also necessary to help in ending discrimination against and criminalisation of people affected by HIV.