BASSETERRE, St Kitts, Jun 21, CMC – The St Kitts-Nevis government has approved a policy aimed at ensuring that the rights of workers are maintained despite their HIV/AIDS and chronic disease status.

The Denzil Douglas government said the St. Kitts and Nevis Workplace Policy on HIV and AIDS and Other Chronic Diseases policy is consistent with the International Labour Organisation’s (ILO’s) decent work agenda.

St. Kitts and Nevis is among Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) that have entered into an agreement with the ILO to implement the decent work agenda through the Decent Work Country Programme (DWCP).

Information Minister Nigel Carty said that the policy deals explicitly with recognising HIV/AIDS and other chronic diseases as a workplace issue; reducing stigma and discrimination taking into account the gender dimension; protection against victimization; ensuring a healthy workplace with reasonable accommodation for workers; non-screening for employment purposes; confidentiality and prevention, counselling and support.

“Cabinet also approved the establishment of a cross-sectoral committee to be charged with the implementation of the St. Kitts and Nevis Workplace Policy on HIV and AIDS and Other Chronic Diseases.

A government statement said that “HIV and AIDS and other chronic diseases continue to be a major concern for the Ministry of Health to reduce their incidence of the diseases, improve care and treatment thereby extending survivability among persons living with the diseases.”