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Imagine going to work and having your boss tell you about HIV safety and making condoms available for employees. It sounds unthinkable for most workplaces but that’s what the Labor Office has encouraged many workplaces to do. Today they celebrated those employers who have done it. Jacqueline Godwin was there.

Jacqueline Godwin Reporting,
Did you know that in 2007 fourth leading cause of death among persons between the ages of 30 and 40 was because of HIV and in 2008 there are already 228 new infections. But of critical concern is the fact that studies are revealing that persons between the ages of 15 and 49 are being most impacted. That is why today’s gathering focusing on behavioural change in the workplace is so important in the fight against HIV and Aids.

When you think that more than 50% of Belize’s population is under thirty then we do know HIV and Aids is impeding economic development because the condition does result in the loss of skills and experience in the workplace. Since 2003 businesses both in the public and private sectors have been encouraged to implement an HIV and Aids policy in the workplace.

Jacqueline Godwin,
What have been the challenges getting these businesses on board?

Hertha Gentle, Acting Deputy Labour Commissioner
“Well Jackie you know everybody is afraid of HIV and we like to say in Belize we fraida so I think it has been a level of fear but we have had good responses but like I said challenges. Some of the challenges were some of the companies who felt that HIV simply wasn’t a issue for them, you also had the workers, while you had management buying in and some workers were fearful in saying we don’t need to talk about this because it won’t happen to me. So those have been some of the challenges.”

Under the International Labour Organization project a total of eighteen workplaces have successfully completed the training and the Belize Labour Department helped five companies in the tourism industry to get onboard. Today those who have helped in the success of the programme were awarded for their contribution in the workplace.

Alice Bowman, Owner – Pelican Beach Resort
“All employers should be able to take a good look at this because people are already assembled; it is easier to contact and to continue this education in the workplace.”

Alice Bowman owner of Pelican Beach Resort that employs up to sixty people was the first establishment to implement the HIV and Aids Policy.

Alice Bowman,
“Well to be honest with you I took a very practical look at it and I thought it was a natural thing, it is something that we need to know about and I got very good response from our staff when I first mentioned it. So it took from there and we don’t have any problems at all talking about it in the workplace.”

Jacqueline Godwin,
What exactly is done at Pelican Beach Resort?

Alice Bowman,
“Well mostly I talk to the staff on a one to one basis because sometimes it could be embarrassing for people to open up and talk to everybody. I find that very effective. I am always discussing and advising. As an older member of our community I think that people perhaps are a little bit more open or feel a little more confident that it is confidential, the discussions.”

Five years later the management of Cahal Pech is hoping to achieve the same level of success as it gets ready to work along with its fifty employees.

Ceasar Quiroz, Floor Manager – Cahal Pech
“We know that the HIV situation in Belize is getting very big and with that we decided to take the leadership and implement a work place policy so that our staff can be protected from discrimination and stigma towards work.”

Jacqueline Godwin,
So what now will be done at Cahal Pech?

Ceasar Quiroz,
“Well what we do with our staff, we’re starting to get like publications on HIV and stuff like that and we get organizations to come in and speak to the staff.”

The Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry says there is a need for concern because HIV and Aids if left unattended can cripple a country’s economy.

Amparo Masson, President BCCI
“For companies specifically it disrupts and reduces production while at the same time increases the cost of labour and puts at risk the skills, experience, expertise, as well as the future of the workforce. And if you think that 90% of those infected don’t know it, we may well be up for a surprise if we leave this situation unattended.”

Sandra Paredez, Chair – UN Theme Group
“HIV is a major threat to the world of work. It is affecting the most productive segment of the labour force and reducing earnings. It is imposing huge costs on enterprises in all sectors through declining productivity, increasing labour costs, and loss of skills and experience.”

Today the Ministry of Labour also launched Creating Change, a workplace behaviour change communication film that will be used to show what other countries including Belize have been doing in the workplace.

Hertha Gentle,
“The program entails preventative education, bottom line, and we do it on a backdrop of behaviour change communication because we realize as a country we have been doing excellent work in providing information but as a people we have not changed behaviour. So our target is providing education for prevention using behaviour change as the model.”

Employees are not required to take a HIV and Aids test rather participate in a survey and educational talks.

Hertha Gentle,
“The purpose of the survey is to assess their knowledge, attitudes, practices and behaviour, bottom-line, and that information we then use to help plan the training session that is geared towards individual organizations. So we come as a group but you walk away with your individual plans and policies.”

Jacqueline Godwin,
So it is a simple procedure. Why the need to be scared?

Hertha Gentle,
“Exactly, very simple but it is something that is new to us and we’re are so afraid of it and everything. What we used to think of cancer in the past is the same thing happening now and I really hope we get to the point where we don’t do this anymore. We could just get into the training and people have no issue.”

According to Deputy Labour Commissioner Hertha Gentle at the start of the New Year they are looking forward to working with an additional twenty three businesses. Jacqueline Godwin reporting for 7NEWS.