WORK PLACE INTERVENTION
As the epidemic spreads to the general population, workers are likely to be increasingly affected by HIV. India has a working population of 398 million (28 million in the formal and 370 million in the informal sector). Most of the workers (93%) are in the informal sector – mainly engaged in agriculture, manufacturing, trade, hotels and restaurants, construction, transport, storage and communications.
These sectors also attract huge number of migrant workers, who stay away from families for long periods, have low access to health care facilities and low health seeking behaviour. They have either no or low social protection benefits. Hence, they are even more vulnerable to STI s/HIV/AIDS.
Increasing HIV prevalence in the workforce can have a negative impact on economic growth - absenteeism, loss of skilled workforce, loss of morale, low turnover and increased recruitment costs. Workplaces offer a structured entry point for HIV related activities into other sectors. It is, therefore, necessary to strengthen HIV/AIDS programs in the world of work covering both formal and informal sectors.
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