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Business versus HIV/AIDS

HIV/AIDS is no longer an issue of health. It has become a social and economic issue, with business as the one most affected.

By Tauvik Muhamad


Originally published July 2nd, 2003 in Koran TEMPO

HIV/AIDS is no longer an issue of health. It has become a social and economic issue, with business as the one most affected. This virus has destroyed business, such as, through decrease in productivity rate due to loss of educated and skilled labor forces. In addition, the swelling of business costs is in line with increase needs of employee recruitment, training and re-training.

Therefore, there is no other choice but rising the war flag without delay. When we look back the efforts to combat HIV/AIDS has been started out since 1982. Levi Strauss & Co initiated it with its workplace prevention programs. The programs included corporate policy development, education and training programs for workers and community, and keep employing people living with HIV/AIDS. Other multinational corporations such as Coca Cola, Heineken, Exxon Mobil, IBM, the Body Shop, Daimler Chrysler, Standard Chartered Bank and Bristol Myers Squibb followed these efforts.

The serious threat of HIV/AIDS has forced business to establish a business coalition. Several coalitions grew in almost throughout the world, especially in areas with high prevalence, since 1997. In Europe, for example, The Prince of Wales Business Leaders Forum was established in 1990 and the Global Business Council on HIV/AIDS was established in 1997. Both of the coalition have at least gathered 20 well-known multinational corporation including Calvin Klein, Polaroid, Squibb, Eskom and The Tata Iron & Steel Co. At regional level, there are The European AIDS and Enterprise Network for Europe and Asian Business Coalition on AIDS for Asia. While for nation-wide coverage there are Thailand Business Coalition on AIDS and South African Coalition on HIV/AIDS.

Business plays a significant role to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS all over the world. Awareness at global level should be followed by local level, including in Indonesia.

The outbreak of the coalitions has encouraged World Economic Forum (WEF) to initiate several initiatives in 2001, including health initiative on HIV/AIDS, which was known with Global Health Initiative (GHI). WEF is a prestigious business forum on this earth and at the beginning was known as the ‘white’ business people exclusive club, and have at least controlled three fourth of the world capital movement.

GHI is purposed to increase quality and quantity of business activity in combating HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. The main purpose of its activities is to mobilize private sector to overcome fund scarcity in combating HIV/AIDS worldwide. Gathering almost one thousand large corporations, some of them are Abbot Laboratories, Anglo American, Kuwait Industries Co. Holding, Mc Donald’s, Merck, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Open Society Institute, and in close collaboration with UNAIDS (United Nations Joint Programme on HIV/AIDS) and WHO (World Health Organization), GHI has become a focal point of global fund raising for HIV/AIDS.

Then, what about Indonesia? This time, it is estimated around 19 million people are highly at risk to HIV/AIDS infection. Based on the UN estimate, the economic loss that this country suffered due to HIV/AIDS has reached IDR 476 trillion every year. If no immediate action is taken, one million people are expected to die within 10 years.

Facilitated by the ILO (International Labour Organization), private sector that was represented by KAIDN-the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and APINDO-Indonesian Employers’ Association, together with government and trade union representatives, have declared a tripartite commitment to combat HIV/AIDS in Indonesia on February 25, 2003. The three parties, under this commitment, agreed to bring force to combat HIV/AIDS through prevention program at workplace. Seeing the seriousness of the Indonesian business in combating HIV/AIDS, GHI recently figured out the possibility of working together with KADIN and APINDO through National Business Alliance on AIDS.

HIV/AIDS prevention does require a political commitment since HIV/AIDS issue is often packed with denial, embarrassment and poor leadership. Unfortunately, there are various obstacles to realize the commitment into HIV/ AIDS prevention program for each company. The obstacles include; many businesses are unaware of the relation between HIV/AIDS and business. Secondly, companies, due to the economic crisis, still put priorities related on how to rescue their companies. Thirdly, the government does not have a policy that legally and formally regulate the obligation to implement HIV/IDS prevention program at work place.

Referring to the difficulties that business has, it is necessary to hold an awareness raising and advocacy activity intensively and continuously on social and economic implication due to HIV/ AIDS, including the benefit that companies will gain if businesses implement HIV/AIDS workplace prevention program. National Business Alliance on AIDS can work on this awareness and advocacy and it can be more extensive with the involvement of International Chamber of Commerce and Commerce and companies other than KADIN and APINDO members. Secondly, it is also necessary to find a way to give incentive tax exempting components. This can encourage companies to implement HIV/AIDS program at workplace without disturbing surviving efforts that companies are doing in the present national economic crisis recovery period. Thirdly, the government is expected to immediately pass a firm law or regulation on the obligation of companies to hold HIV/AIDS programs as part of OSH-Occupational Safety and Health program. The law pr regulation can be as of reference and “force” for companies to run workplace HIV/AIDS prevention program.

Inevitably, business plays a significant role to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS all over the world. Awareness at global level should be followed by local level, including in Indonesia.

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Last updated Thu, 08 Aug 2024 14:22:30 GMT