Speech by Dr Amy Khor, Minister of State for Health and Chairperson of the National HIV/AIDS Policy Committee at the Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF) CEO Luncheon on Friday 27th Jan 2012, 11.35am at the Suntec Convention Centre, Room 201

Impact of HIV in the workplace

1. I am pleased to join you at today’s SNEF CEO luncheon during this festive season to discuss a somewhat difficult topic. The subject of HIV is not a happy one. It is sometimes spoken of in whispers. It is a subject that is still taboo for many. But it is important to discuss this topic. Today, I am speaking on this topic in relation to the workplace and the well-being of our workers to ensure that HIV has little or no impact on our employees

2. HIV was first detected in Singapore in the 80s. At that time, little was known about this debilitating disease except that there was no cure for it. Since 2007, about 400 new cases of HIV are diagnosed among Singaporeans every year. HIV/AIDS prevalence data has revealed that 70% of all people who tested positive for HIV fall within 30 to 59 years of age- the most economically productive age group. There are around 4,000 people living with HIV in Singapore today. That is not a small number by any measure.

Increased life expectancy of people living with HIV

3. However, unlike the 80s, the good news is that most HIV carriers today are able to lead productive lives if their conditions are properly managed. Medical advances and supportive case management have made it possible for them to do so, especially if they are diagnosed early.

The Need to Address HIV in the Workplace

4. Beyond medicine, other factors such as work place and family support do play an important part too. For example, employers can create an enabling workplace environment that empowers such members of society to continue contributing to the workforce. Being gainfully employed, people living with HIV can not only continue providing for their families, but live full lives within the community as well. Employers can also arm their workers with knowledge on how to protect themselves and their families against HIV infection by raising awareness of the disease in the workplace.

5. Based on a survey conducted by the Health Promotion Board in 2010, it is heartening to note that between 2007 and 2010 the level of knowledge on the ways to prevent HIV infection among the working population age group of 30 to 59 years increased from 37% to 68% - or nearly double. Over this same period, we have also seen the level of acceptance of people living with HIV increased from 22% to 42%.

6.However, more can be done to de-stigmatise the disease so that people living with HIV can retain their employment and their status as income earners for their families.

7. The stigma against HIV is hard to shake off. Employees living with HIV still frequently experience discrimination in their workplace, both during their period of employment and during their application process. A common form of discrimination occurs when employees are dismissed, not on the basis of their performance, but because of their HIV status. But HIV cannot be spread via casual contact and people living with HIV can continue to contribute significantly to their companies alongside their co-workers if given the opportunity. Such is the mindset change that we need to see in our society.

8. As chair of the National HIV-AIDS Policy Committee, one of my priorities is to address this issue of discrimination in the employment of workers with HIV. I am encouraged by companies such as the Keppel Shipyard and the Standard Chartered Bank for having formalised workplace education programs to promote understanding of the disease among their staff.

Recommendations by SNEF to guide workplaces

9. Prevention and public education remain the main focus of the National HIV- AIDS Policy Committee’s strategy against HIV- AIDS infection. The Ministry of Health’s policies will also continue to evolve in this direction. However, it is the on-the-ground management of the disease that will make the most tangible impact on the lives of people. .

10. The Business sector obviously plays a crucial role in managing HIV-AIDS in the workplace. Businesses possess valuable resources, such as human resource management skills, that can be utilized to develop appropriate HIV-AIDS workplace policies, financial resources to implement the HIV-AIDS education programmes, and business networks to share their best practices.

11. I want to commend the Singapore National Employers Federation for the development of the landmark Guidelines on Managing HIV-AIDS in the Workplace. Since 1992, where it chaired a committee to evaluate HIV and AIDS at the workplace and produced the first version of the guideline in 1993, it has continued to review the document often to ensure its relevance to the workplace as well its alignment to international recommendations.

12. I note that the latest version of the guidelines have been tiered to encourage companies to adopt and implement the recommendations – and I understand this was done based on feedback by companies. Because enlightened companies, such as yourselves, are pledging to adopt these guiding principles, many more will learn how to protect themselves and their loved ones against HIV infection. The stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV in the workplace will also be reduced.

Moving Forward

13. I would also like to commend the Health Promotion Board, and members of the AIDS Business Alliance for driving workplace education on HIV prevention and creating multiple platforms, such as today’s luncheon, to advance our community’s knowledge of HIV prevention.

14. The companies who are pledging to adopt the guidelines today are taking a very positive first step to help reduce the incidence of new HIV infections and stigmatisation by creating a productive and non-discriminatory work environment.

15. I would like to thank all the SNEF members for taking time to be here today to support this worthy cause, and not forgetting the many hours you already have spent in developing these guidelines. I wish all of you a very a prosperous and blessed Lunar New Year ahead.

16. Thank you.