Study Shows Corporations in Mexico Make Strides
In Dealing with HIV/AIDS in the Workplace
A recent survey of 20 corporations in Mexico strongly suggests
that policies relative to HIV/AIDS in the workplace are moving
forward.
The survey, financed in part by USAID and implemented by
the AIDS Responsibility Project (ARP), attempted to determine
the extent of HIV/AIDS stigma and discrimination in Mexico’s
corporate workplaces. Participation in the survey was voluntary.
Of the 20 U.S. corporations interviewed, seven had stand-alone
policies addressing HIV/AIDS in the workplace, and five said
they actually train managers on HIV/AIDS policies.
Other findings include:
- Eleven of the companies screen applicants for medical
purposes and two said they screen specifically for HIV/AIDS;
- Two companies said they would decline to hire an applicant
if s/he were to disclose an HIV-positive status, and none
said it would terminate an employee who disclosed a positive
status;
- Eighteen companies said they have a policy of keeping
confidential an employee’s positive status, and only
one said it does not have a system in place for reporting
violations of such confidentiality;
- Sixteen companies said they offer health related materials,
classes, and similar activities for employees’ families,
and seven said these activities focus specifically on occupational
HIV/AIDS issues; and
- Eighteen companies said they participate in or encourage
philanthropic activities, and six said these activities
were specifically related to HIV/AIDS.
Adolfo Franco, assistant administrator of USAID and head
of the Latin America and Caribbean bureau, said the study
is a first step towards understanding and managing HIV/AIDS
stigmas in the workplace globally.
“Preventing and controlling the spread of HIV/AIDS
is a clear shared interest of the United States and Mexico,”
he said at a recent meeting in Mexico at which results of
the survey were presented. “HIV, along with other infectious
disease, do not respect borders, and this makes our bilateral
cooperation on this issue a matter of crucial importance…”
Franco added, “Addressing workplace policies around
HIV/AIDS – and the involvement of business in establishing
fair and pro-active policies for employees – are important
first steps in confronting the stigma and discrimination that
has manifested itself. Not only does this demonstrate good,
responsible business practice, it is also good for business.”
“Business has a vital role to play in addressing HIV/AIDS,”
said Abner Mason, executive director of ARP. “This is
because businesses, particularly those with operations in
the hardest-hit countries, recognize the profound impact of
the epidemic on their workforce.”
The study is the first in ARP’s Stigma Reduction Program,
which seeks to highlight the role that U.S. companies play
in Latin America in the area of HIV/AIDS workplace policies.
The program is funded in part by USAID.
Mexico ranks third in the Americas (behind the U.S. and Brazil)
in the number of HIV/AIDS cases reported to the World Health
Organization. Its prevalence rate is about half of that in
the U.S. An estimated three out of every 1,000 Mexicans live
with HIV (approximately 160,000), according to Mexico’s
National Center for the Prevention and Control of HIV/AIDS.
ARP surveyed 20 U.S. employers in Mexico on their workplace
policies and held in-depth interviews with top human resource
personnel among participating companies.
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