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ILAB News Release: [10/20/2004]
Contact Name: Jane Norris or Mike
Biddle
Phone Number: (202) 693-4676 or x5051
U.S. Labor Department Awards $9 Million Grant to International Labor Organization to Fight HIV/AIDS in the Workplace
WASHINGTON—U.S. Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao today announced
a $9 million grant to the International Labor Organization (ILO) to implement
workplace-based HIV/AIDS programs around the world.
“In addition to being a serious health issue, HIV/AIDS is also an economic
issue,” said U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao. “Because the rate of
infection is highest among the working-age population, this disease has a
significant impact on the worldwide labor force.”
According to the ILO, as many as 28 million workers worldwide have been
lost to HIV/AIDS since the start of the epidemic. “At the current rate of
infection, we will face both an economic and humanitarian crisis as the global
workforce is affected, causing economic growth to slow and increasing poverty
around the world,” said Chao.
The grant, which is awarded by the Department's Bureau of International
Labor Affairs (ILAB), is part of an on-going initiative to help stem the
epidemic by using the workplace as a venue for education and prevention efforts.
The Department is also focusing its efforts on working with governments,
workers, and employers to decrease employment discrimination against people
living with HIV/AIDS so that people may be encouraged to seek voluntary counseling,
testing and other services without fear of losing their jobs.
The new $9 million grant will be used to fund programs in countries that
are facing or anticipating significant rates of infection. These countries
include Burkina Faso, Cameroon, China, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and Trinidad
and Tobago.
ILAB has been funding international workplace-based HIV/AIDS projects since
2000 and has dedicated a total of $42 million to the initiative. It is currently
funding projects in more than 25 countries around the world.
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