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Contact:
Claudia Monlouis
Monday, April 14, 2003 - The Organisation of American States (OAS) has
agreed to fund a US $50,000 HIV/AIDS project for Saint Lucia. “HIV/AIDS in the
Workplace” was submitted by the Department of Labour Relations under its
Occupational Health and Safety Policy.
As explained by Minister for Labour Relations, the Honourable Velon John, the
project is linked to strides being made to provide mechanisms for improving
occupational health and safety conditions in the workplace, through well managed
occupational hygiene programmes. “The objectives of this sub sector are as
follows: the maintenance and promotion of workers health, safety and working
capacity and the improvement of the working environment, and work culture in a
manner that supports health and safety at work and augmentation of
productivity.”
The Memorandum of Understanding between the government of St. Lucia and the OAS
Secretariat was signed in November 2002.
The programme will seek to implement specific policy guidelines for dealing with
HIV/AIDS in the workplace in terms of discrimination, unfair treatment and
dismissal of workers living with HIV/AIDS.
A committee has been established for the implementation of the project. It
comprises personnel from the Ministries of Health, Planning, the Public Service,
Labour Relations and the AIDS Action Foundation. The OAS HIV/AIDS in the
workplace project will also adopt the guidelines of the International Labour
Organisation HIV/ AIDS model. The project may be expanded into an OECS wide
programme.
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