Like this article? PLEASE +1 it! Evan Signature
Evan Carmichael Top Header
Share for a Cause









5.5 The HIV/AIDS threat: Working Out of Poverty

Written by: International Labour Organization

Article Overview: Over 25 million workers are infected with HIV/AIDS, and millions more affected by the pandemic. The ILO has calculated that the size of the labour force in high-prevalence countries will be between 10 and 30 per cent smaller by 2020 than it would have been without the effect of HIV/AIDS, which poses a serious threat to economic growth and development prospects. Macroeconomic performance is undermined by rising labour costs associated with the pandemic, through skills shortages, sickness and absenteeism and reduced productivity and economic competitiveness, resulting in a shrinking tax base, less foreign investment and fewer jobs.

Free Download - References: Learning to change: Skills development among the economically vulnerable and socially excluded in developing countries By International Labour Organization
Name: Email:

5.5 The HIV/AIDS threat: Working Out of Poverty

Over 25 million workers are infected with HIV/AIDS, and millions
more affected by the pandemic. The ILO has calculated that the size of the
labour force in high-prevalence countries will be between 10 and 30 per cent
smaller by 2020 than it would have been without the effect of HIV/AIDS,
which poses a serious threat to economic growth and development prospects.
Macroeconomic performance is undermined by rising labour costs
associated with the pandemic, through skills shortages, sickness and absenteeism
and reduced productivity and economic competitiveness, resulting in
a shrinking tax base, less foreign investment and fewer jobs.

Household income is eroded by the loss of employment or lower productivity,
especially in agriculture, while health-related costs rise. Moreover,
the workforce of the future is weakened as children are taken out of school
to help care for sick relatives, to raise income for the family, or because they
have lost one or both parents to AIDS. Education services are being decimated
by the high mortality rate amongst teachers. Government revenues
from both individuals and enterprises are reduced at a time when social
spending, especially on health, needs to increase. The cumulative effect is a
slowdown, or even reversal, of economic growth and an escalation of
poverty.

The disproportionate effect of the pandemic in relation to discrimination
was discussed in Chapter 3. Women are more negatively affected by
HIV/AIDS the greater the gender discrimination in societies. They are more
vulnerable to HIV/AIDS because of social, cultural, economic and biological
factors. Their sexual and economic subordination to men means that they
often do not have the power to negotiate safe sex or refuse unsafe sex. In addition,
the power imbalance between men and women – at the workplace as
in the home – exposes women to the threat of sexual violence and harassment.
Women’s roles as mothers and caregivers mean that their ability to obtain
and retain employment is more easily disrupted by HIV/AIDS. As a
result of absences from work, women lose their jobs, or trading or other production
opportunities, and it is often difficult to re-enter the formal or informal
labour market.

Social protection resources to mitigate the wide-ranging effects of HIV/
AIDS are limited, particularly in countries severely affected by the pandemic.
Public expenditures on social security and health have often been cut
as part of structural adjustment programmes. As a result, the costs of care
are passed on to communities where families are doing their best to provide
care for people who are falling sick and eventually dying, with the extra burdens
generally resting on women’s shoulders.

Workers in the informal economy are particularly vulnerable to HIV/
AIDS, in terms both of susceptibility and impact of the pandemic. Firstly, poverty and low education levels are associated with a higher likelihood of
engaging in unprotected sexual behaviour and thereby contracting the virus.
Secondly, enterprises in the informal economy are usually small and labour
intensive which means that they rely heavily on one or a few operators.
When a worker falls sick and eventually dies, it is very difficult for these
small enterprises to stay in business. The precarious nature of informal employment,
the lack of social protection and limited access to health services
also compound the impact of the disease for individual workers. As workers
in the informal economy are usually not members of trade unions or business
networks, and government involvement is by definition very limited, HIV/
AIDS prevention and mitigation programmes face a particular challenge in
reaching out to informal economy operators.

Migrant populations are particularly vulnerable to HIV infection for a
variety of reasons, including isolation and loss of social networks, and limited
access to health services, social protection and education, especially in the
case of illegal migrants. Seafaring, trucking, itinerant trading and other
highly mobile occupations involve an above-average risk of HIV infection,
given the workers’ separation from their families and the availability of alcohol
and sex along many transport routes.

Following the adoption of the resolution concerning HIV/AIDS and
the world of work by the International Labour Conference at its 88th Session
in June 2000, the ILO has developed a major programme of activities to assist
governments, employers and unions in developing new or improved policy
frameworks to combat HIV/AIDS. Technical cooperation activities are
under way in Botswana, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malaysia, Saint Lucia, the United
Republic of Tanzania, Thailand and Uganda, and others are in the pipeline.
The centrepiece of the programme is an ILO code of practice on HIV/AIDS
and the world of work developed through an intensive process of consultation
with the ILO’s tripartite constituents. Formally launched at the United
Nations General Assembly Special Session on HIV/AIDS (New York, 25-27
June 2001), it received the support of the United Nations Secretary-General,
as well as national leaders, corporations, labour organizations and NGOs.

Related Articles
  1.5 Skills development for sustainable livelihoods: Working Out of Poverty
  1.19 Building trust: Working Out of Poverty
  1.0 Overview: Working Out of Poverty
  1.9 Building local development through cooperatives: Working Out of Poverty
  Home Business Expert: How To Overcome Poverty Consciousness

Home > African-Accounts > International Labour Organization > 55 The HIVAIDS threat Working Out of Poverty
Article Tags: aids education services, biological factors, development prospects, disproportionate effect, economic competitiveness, economic growth and development, gender discrimination, government revenues, high mortality rate, hiv aids, household income, labour costs, labour force, macroeconomic performance, power imbalance, safe sex, sexual violence, sick relatives, skills shortages, unsafe sex

About the Author: International Labour Organization
RSS for International's articles - Visit International's website

As the world's only tripartite multilateral agency, the ILO is dedicated to bringing decent work and livelihoods, job-related security and better living standards to the people of both poor and rich countries. It helps to attain those goals by promoting rights at work, encouraging opportunities for decent employment, enhancing social protection and strengthening dialogue on work-related issues. The ILO is the international meeting place for the world of work. We are the experts on work and employment and particularly on the critical role that these issues play in bringing about economic development and progress. At the heart of our mission is helping countries build the institutions that are the bulwarks of democracy and to help them become accountable to the people. The ILO formulates international labour standards in the form of Conventions and Recommendations setting minimum standards of basic labour rights: freedom of association, the right to organize, collective bargaining, abolition of forced labour, equality of opportunity and treatment and other standards addressing conditions across the entire spectrum of work-related issues.

Click here to visit International's website
Dashed Line

More from International Labour Organization
Study objectives Learning to change
62 Traditional interventions Forprofit and NGO training activities
40 Sustainable propoor growth and the governance of the labour market Working Out of Poverty
80 Promotion of womens entrepreneurship Support for Growthoriented Women Entrepreneurs in Tanzania 2005
117 Building partnerships Working Out of Poverty


Related Forum Posts
Re: What is Your Favorite Thing About Owning A Business? Re: What is Your Favorite Thing About Owning A Business? - [quote="freddyb45":1t3lpfi8]For me it's the fact that all the time and effort you put in is worth a lot more, due to it making you "business" more profitable. Working for yourself is also a positive, although employing people you can trust is quite different.[/quote:1t3lpfi8] I like this idea. Working for yourself means you are investing in your own future, not someone else's, although there is value in working for someone else first to gain experience and confidence. Working for yourself does not automatically mean success, fame and fortune. For most entrepreneurs, it takes much work and dedication to get to the point of financial success and comfort - sometimes years. But the benefit is, again, you know you are investing in yourself and building equity for your own future. GT :-]
Re: Google Buzz - Any Thoughts? Re: Google Buzz - Any Thoughts? - I tried it. But looks like a least effective one. It won't pose a real threat to facebook. Robert
Re: What or Who Sparks Your Business Interest Re: What or Who Sparks Your Business Interest - this might be surprise to you, but poverty spark my business interest. Poverty is prevalent in Africa. And I discovered early in life that people that own their businesses are richer than anypne else. I decided to get out of the poverty level and business provided a way of escape.
Re: help wanted in u.k. Re: help wanted in u.k. - Working on it all, a new world to me cheers brendan
Re: Is Twitter really worth $1 Billion? Re: Is Twitter really worth $1 Billion? - Great analysis GT. But MySpace was sold for $580 million right?... and it later got trumped by Facebook. So what happens if a "Twitter-cone" pops up and steals all of their traffic the minute Twitter begins selling out and adding ads? Is that a realistic threat?


Share this article with your friends. Fund someone's dream.

Leave a comment below or share on the left and you'll help support entrepreneurs in Africa through our partnership with Kiva. Over $50,000 raised and counting - Please keep sharing! Learn more.



Featured Article


Bottom Footer
Share for a Cause












Newsletter

Get advice & tips from famous business
owners, new articles by entrepreneur
experts, my latest website updates, &
special sneak peaks at what's to come!
Name:
Email:
Popular Articles

The State of the Sustainable Furniture Industry

Getting The Media Attention You Deserve

Top 5 Tips for Better Online Ads

Suggestions

Email us your ideas on how to make our
website more valuable! Thank you Sharon
from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for
your suggestions to make the newsletter
look like the website and profile younger
entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez.