World AIDS Day 2021

Prevent the spread of HIV and COVID-19 with VCT and vaccine programmes

The ILO joins hands with the Confederation of Indonesian Moslem Trade Union (K-Saburmusi) and the City Government of Sukabumi to prevent the spread of HIV and COVID-19 for transportation workers and people with HIV.

News | Jakarta, Indonesia | 06 December 2021
To commemorate this year’s World AIDS Day, the ILO in collaboration with the Confederation of Indonesian Moslem Trade Union (K-Saburmusi) and the City Government of Sukabumi organized a VCT@Work programme for transportation workers and COVID-19 vaccine programme for people with HIV. Held on 1 December at Gedong Joang Sukabumi City of West Java, these programmes aimed to strengthen efforts taken by relevant stakeholders to minimize the spread of HIV as well as COVID-19.

The VCT@Work programme for transportation workers in Sukabumi City
Sukabumi city is known as the third highest HIV prevalence city in West Java. These programmes successfully reached out to 60 transportation workers to participate in the voluntarily HIV testing and 150 people with HIV to get vaccinated.

I would like to thank both the City Government of Sukabumi and the ILO for their support to these joint programmes. Discrimination related to HIV at workplace is part of the employment issues that as important as other employment issues and other workplace discrimination issues."

Sukitman Sujadmiko, Vice President of K-Saburmusi
Andri Setiawan, Deputy Mayor of Sukabumi City, said that these programmes were also aimed to realize the zero case of HIV by 2030 in Sukabumi City. “We would like to seize the moment of the World AIDS Day to strengthen our efforts and commitment to fight the spread of HIV and to reach herd immunity of COVID-19,” he said.

The City Health Office has recorded a decrease case of HIV in Sukabumi City from 136 cases in 2020 to 123 cases in 2021. Commenting on the declination of HIV cases, Andri emphasized that the city government in collaboration with relevant stakeholders would continue to raise the awareness and implement the HIV prevention programme.

Vice President of K-Saburmusi, Sukitman Sujadmiko, underscored the importance of social dialogue between the management and workers to ensure an effective industrial relation and a non-discriminatory policy at enterprise level. He also emphasized the importance of HIV education and prevention programme to eliminate stigma and discrimination against people with HIV who still face a great challenge in maintaining their jobs and/or in finding jobs, particularly in high-risked sectors such as transportation.

“I would like to thank both the City Government of Sukabumi and the ILO for their support to these joint programmes,” he said. “Discrimination related to HIV at workplace is part of the employment issues that as important as other employment issues and other workplace discrimination issues.”

With support from the ILO, K-Saburmusi has signed a joint commitment on 29 November to implement a non-discriminatory policy as part of the collective bargaining agreement between K-Saburmusi with the transportation company association. The joint commitment was immediately followed by a peer counsellor training for selected K-Saburmusi officials.

The contribution of K-Saburmusi through its trained peer counsellors will be included on the AIDS Care Community programme, especially at workplace sector."

Fifi Kusumajaya, Sukabumi City AIDS Commission
“Through these joint activities in the forms of joint commitment and training, we hope that K-Saburmusi will continue strengthening their efforts to implement a non-discriminatory policy at the enterprise level, particularly with sectors with HIV high-risks,” explained Early Dewi Nuriana, ILO’s programme coordinator for HIV prevention at workplace.

Trade unions are considered as the spearhead for the HIV prevention and control at workplaces. Early added that trade unions play important roles in encouraging the formation of a non-discriminatory policy in the workplace, supporting educational programmes and ensuring the availability of HIV services in the company as well as increasing awareness and understanding of its members to promote equal rights and treatment.

For its commitment and active contribution to the workplace HIV prevention programme, K-Saburmusi received an award from the City Government of Sukabumi. Fifi Kusumajaya, Sukabumi City AIDS Commission, appraised the contribution of K-Saburmusi to End AIDS programme through the development of non-discriminatory policy and prevention programme. “The contribution of K-Saburmusi through its trained peer counsellors will be included on the AIDS Care Community programme, especially at workplace sector,” said Fifi.

ILO continue to support the collaboration between K-Sarbumusi and Sukabumi City to inspire more companies, trade unions and workplace communities in promoting non-discriminatory policies and HIV awareness programme at workplace that in turn will contribute to achievements of Zero new HIV infections. Zero discrimination. Zero AIDS-related deaths in Indonesia by 2030.