HIV/AIDS generic. [Photo/destinyconnect.com]
Friday was World Aids Day. The impact HIV/Aids has on small and medium enterprises (SMEs) cannot be denied.
HIV remains an important issue with devastating effects on labor and productivity.
According to the International Labour Organisation (IL0), an estimated 36.7 million people were living with HIV (PHIV) at the end of 2015 globally.
Kenya has an average HIV prevalence rate of six percent and has about 1.6 million people living with the infection.
Those infected still face stigma, with a huge number of them, denied access to employment and social protection.
However, the way your small business handles its workers can greatly minimise the negatives brought about by the disease.
SMEs need to look into policies that inform treatment of workers living with the disease. Under the HIV and AIDS Prevention and Control Act, under section 13, no person shall compel another to undergo an HIV test except where a person is charged with a sexual offense.
Small business owners who give medical policies to their employees, knowingly and unknowingly improve those workers living with HIV.
This means productivity is not compromised and absenteeism is minimised.
The Act also requires of the employer, as far as it is reasonably practicable, to create a safe working environment for the employees.
Discrimination will not only attract penalties from the law but from your business stakeholders as well.
Be prudent, respect the anonymity of your workers’ status as well as put in measures that promote their well-being, just in case one or more of them are infected.