HIV: Code of Conduct against discrimination in businesses

The Labor Platform Against AIDS will launch Friday a Code of Business Conduct and HIV to stop the discrimination in the workplace and to facilitate the dissemination of information about the disease among workers, referred to Lusa.

The companies signed the Code of Conduct commit themselves to "not discriminate against people living with HIV infection" and ensure equality between men and women in the access to prevention and treatment "of HIV / AIDS, according to the National Coordination Infection for HIV / AIDS.

"Work places are central in the response to HIV socially responsible, in the areas of prevention, access to treatment and non-discrimination", since "nine out of ten people infected with HIV are of working age 'advance notice in the body High Commissioner of Health, dependent on the Ministry of Health

The 51 companies that sign the code will also undertake to recognize that the test for detection of infection should be voluntary and confidential and should not prevent "the entry and career" of an employee.

Companies that accepted 'challenge'

The Labor Platform launched the challenge to several Portuguese companies, especially those operating in countries where the infection is' highly frequent.

Waters of Portugal, BP Potugal, Cimpor, Portugal Coca-Cola, Nestle Portugal and Sonae are among the companies that pass the "promote the dissemination of the principles" of the Code and "cooperate in efforts to share best practices that will be held ' , Adds the release.

The Labor Platform Against AIDS was an initiative created in 2004 by the National Commission to Combat AIDS, which includes several companies in the world of work, with the aim of "responding to the challenges that HIV infection in Portugal places in the working environment."

In signing the Code of Business Conduct and HIV will attend the Health Minister, Ana Jorge, Minister of Labor and Social Solidarity, José Vieira da Silva, the national coordinator for HIV Infection / AIDS, Henrique de Barros, and representatives of other entities related to work and to health.