Presented by: Edna Bokaba (FEDUSA)

1. The Role of Organised Labour in Addressing HIV and AIDSINTER PARLIAMENTARY UNION (IPU)on 22 January 2009 Presented by: Edna Bokaba (FEDUSA)

2. ORGANISED LABOUR IN SOUTH AFRICA • Comprises FEDUSA, COSATU and NACTU • Represents all the workers in NEDLAC • All three labour federations are represented on SANAC, Provincial, Regional, Local and District AIDS Councils • Collaborate with UN Agencies, International and Local HIV and AIDS Organisations, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), amongst others • Form partnerships with like-minded organisations in South Africa

3. ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES • Help to mitigate the impact of HIV and AIDS on workers in particular and society at large • curb the spread of the virus and protect workers from becoming infected • Raise awareness around HIV and AIDS • Sensitise, educate and train all levels of workers, from leadership to shop-stewards and officials as well • Campaign; advocate and lobby for better treatment, workplace rights, and benefits • Negotiate at NEDLAC on all issues such as a Comprehensive Treatment Plan, Social Health Insurance for all workers, Social Grants - especially for orphans and vulnerable children, as well as child support grants • Critically monitor and evaluate government’s implementation of policies and programmes

4. IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NATIONAL STRATEGIC PLAN (NSP) FOR 2007 - 2011 IN WORKPLACE HIV AND AIDS PROGRAMMES: • PRIORITY AREA 1:PREVENTION OF HIV AND AIDS: • PREVENTION Programme - offered extensive workplace trainings on: • Fundamentals of HIV and AIDS • HIV, AIDS and The Law • Behaviour Change Communication • Chief Negotiators HIV and AIDS Collective Bargaining Training and • Peer Education Training

5. IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NATIONAL STRATEGIC PLAN (NSP) FOR 2007 - 2011 • VOLUNTARY COUNSELLING AND TESTING Adopted resolutions on: • “Know your HIV status” • Offered regional Training on VCT, and • Offered VCT Services at Training Workshop and at National Congresses

6. IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NATIONAL STRATEGIC PLAN (NSP) FOR 2007 - 2011 • PRIORITY AREA 2: TREATMENT, CARE AND SUPPORT TREATMENT: • referrals to local treatment sites • Provide training on treatment literacy CARE AND SUPPORT: • Offer Home-based Care • Adoption of HIV and AIDS Orphanage in Orange Farm called Sibahle Children’s Home, and • Offered financial and other support on a monthly basis between 2003 and 2007

7. IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NATIONAL STRATEGIC PLAN (NSP) FOR 2007 - 2011 • PRIORITY AREA 4: - HUMAN AND LEGAL RIGHTS • Policy- Adoption of HIV and AIDS Workplace Policies • Fight against stigma and discrimination in the workplace • Lobby around issues of HIV, AIDS and related issues • Advocate for better benefits for people infected or affected by HIV and AIDS • Engage in Public hearings on HIV and AIDS • Submission of Inputs into Parliamentary Processes • Defend dismissed workers – for HIV and AIDS related cases

8. CHALLENGES • Lack of resources to implement programmes, both human and financial • Insufficient time-off for trained officials and shop-stewards to capacitate other workers • HIV and AIDS still not prioritised • Non utilization by government of trained officials and shop stewards

9. SOUTH AFRICA’S PROGRESS • Statistics show a stabilisation, however it is difficult to prove • In different age groups there is an increase • An increase is evident in the older age group, but • The stats show a stabilisation in the youth, especially males

10. WAY FORWARD FOR SOUTH AFRICA • Learn how best we can improve on what we have been doing so far • Develop new strategies to deal with this virus • Learn from other countries who have had successes in curbing the spread of HIV

11. THANK YOU