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South Africa’s Labour Mildred Oliphant today (October 2) launched a ground-breaking study to be used as a tool to help cushion the devastating economic effects of HIV and Aids in the workplaces.

Oliphant told a media briefing in Pretoria (Tshwane) that: “as we shift into evidence-based policy considerations, it is important that we apply the same evidence-based principles in assessing what works. This is precisely the basis on which this new project is premised; to demonstrate using verifiable evidence, what works and what works well”.

The new study entitled: “What Works in HIV and AIDS and the World of Work in South Africa” is a joint initiative of the Department of Labour, the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) and will be funded by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), a  technical development agency owned by the German Government.

The study will involve the conducting  of a comprehensive assessment of 50 workplaces. It will showcase practical workplace initiatives and interventions in the field of HIV and Aids – by focusing on workplaces that have already initiated programmes, so as to learn from existing knowledge base.

Oliphant said: “the project is as an extension of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Multi-Country Study Report entitled: “Effective Responses to HIV and AIDS at Work – A Multi-Country Study in Africa that I launched in 24 April 2015”.

“The study that we are launching is aimed at obtaining documented evidence of effective responses among diverse workplaces in South Africa. Through this initiative, which GIZ is gladly supporting, is the drive of the Department of Labour to determine effective responses to HIV and AIDS in South African workplaces.

“Obtaining documented evidence of what impact these have had on among other things; increasing knowledge of HIV and AIDS, encouraging growing commitment to voluntary counselling, testing and changing risky behaviours, reduction in stigma and discrimination, as well as, increasing uptake on anti-retroviral treatment”.

Oliphant said evidence obtained from the study will also inform steps to be taken in order to enhance policy and best practices in dealing with the challenge of HIV and AIDS in the workplace.

Professor Nancy Phaswana-Mafuya from HSRC, whose organisation would use its advanced infrastructure expertise in the study, said the project would be conducted over the next two to three years. She said such studies are critical in helping organisations concerned with increasing their profit margins, reduce costs, and ensure their long-term sustainability.

Phaswana-Mafuya said work places today were concerned with mitigating the impact of HIV and Aids. She said the focus would be on workplaces that have already initiated HIV and Aids programme, “so as to learn from practical experience and, not reinvent the wheel. We want to document data obtained from various sectors. We also want to influence policy making”.

According to the HSRC the national study will focus on a diverse sample of companies in both private and public sector, drawn from different sectors of the economy.

The joint study was endorsed by the International Labour Organisation; Business Unity South Africa and; the Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa (SEIFSA).

Busa Executive Director, Vanessa Phala said evidence based initiatives were a step in the right direction to grow and transform the economy. Phala said with discussions having started at Nedlac on the phasing in of comprehensive social security, such studies would go a long way to help in driving forward the process and discussions.

Kaizer Nyatsumba, Seifsa Chief Executive said his organisation firmly believes in partnerships to tackle challenges. He said Seifsa would sensitise its members about the existence of the research project.

Issued by Department of Labour