HIV, AIDS policy 2022 notified for workplaces to protect employees.

November 8, 2022

Aiming to ensure legal protection for persons afflicted with HIV at the workplace, the Union Health Ministry has notified the HIV and AIDS Policy for Establishments, 2022 as provided under Section 12 of the HIV and AIDS (Prevention & Control) Act, 2017. The policy is applicable to all establishments as defined in the Act to eliminate HIV & AIDS-related stigma and discrimination in various workplace settings.
The Model Policy needs to be adopted by all establishments that have carried out the production, supply, or distribution of goods or services for a period of twelve months or more. It is non-discrimination against people infected with and affected by HIV and AIDS and provides confidentiality to a person’s HIV status and related data. The establishment has also been mandated to set up a redressal mechanism in the form of a complaints officer.
“The Model Policy imposes strict obligations on the establishment and the complaints officer to adopt data management policies and establish data management committees where the establishment collects HIV-related data,” said an official from the Ministry about the key features of the policy.
“As per the policy, establishments with 100 or more staff must appoint a complaints officer to handle any grievances under the policy and appoint additional complaints officers for each office of such establishment having 100 or more staff. The model policy also imposes certain obligations on the complaints officer such as publishing annual reports, filing half-yearly action reports to the appropriate authorities, etc,” added the official.
The Model Policy requires every State Government to appoint a state-level Ombudsman who will take care of all complaints made under the act while it will be mandatory on the establishments to conduct annual workshops and awareness programmes for all employees and orientation training for complaints officer(s).
“So far 18 States/UTs have already notified the State Rules under the HIV and AIDS (Prevention & Control) Act 2017 and 25 States/UTs have appointed Ombudsman. Besides, over 1000 Complaints Officers have been designated at establishments in States/UTs”, informed Nidhi Kesarwani, Director of National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) under the Union Health Ministry.
India is committed to ‘Ending the AIDS epidemic as a public health threat by 2030 in line with Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). Sustained commitment and action are required at all levels to address the challenges ahead and achieve desired outcomes, added Alok Saxena, Additional Secretary & Director General, NACO.