HIV/AIDS Workplace Policy for the Education Sector in the Caribbean

The policy is the result of a sub-regional workshop held in 2005 in Jamaica, which brought together representatives of government (Ministries of Education and Labour and National AIDS Commissions), labour (unions representing teachers and other education sector workers) and private sector employers from five Commonwealth Caribbean countries (Barbados, Belize, Guyana, Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago).

The workplace policy discussed and agreed during the workshop is adapted and specific to the region.

Key issues addressed in the HIV & AIDS workplace policies include the following key areas of action:

• prevention of HIV through workplace prevention, education and training programmes;


• reduction of vulnerability arising from unequal gender and staff/student (or learner) relationships;


• elimination of stigma and discrimination on the basis of real or perceived HIV status;


• care, treatment and support of staff and students who are living with and/or affected by HIV; and


• management and mitigation of the impact of HIV and AIDS in education institutions