SOME 22 companies have now signed agreements committing to stamp out AIDS discrimination in the workplace, says the Jamaica Employers' Federation (JEF).

The employers group has been organising workshops, in collaboration with health and labour organsiations, for the companies that have endorsed a "corporate values statement" requiring them to implement policies to deal with HIV/ AIDS discrimination.

Nat'l business council

The parties have also been cooperating on the creation of a national business council, through which it will coordinate its efforts with the Government and non-governmental organisations to support the national HIV/ AIDS programme, the JEF said.

More than 20,000 Jamaicans are estimated by the Ministry of Health to be HIV positive, with infections prevalent in the 15 to 49 age group.

One in four persons in the workplace are considered HIV-positive.

A February 2006 survey commissioned by the JEF found that 62 per cent of the estimated 23,000 employees in the companies surveyed, were not covered by HIV-specific workplace policies. Managers, said the JEF, reported having few if any opportunities to share best practices on dealing with HIV/AIDS in the workplace, and 13 per cent of the companies said they would not hire applicants who disclosed an HIV-positive status, the federation said.

The 22 companies

American Airlines
Bank of Nova Scotia
Cable and Wireless
Capital and Credit Merchant Bank
Carreras Group
Caymanas Track Limited
GraceKennedy
Guardian Life
Island Grill
Jamaica Pegasus Hotel
Shipping Association of Jamaica
National Commercial Bank
Pan Jamaican Investment/Jamaica Property Company
Pepsi Cola Ja. Bottling Company
Red Stripe
RJR Communications
Terra Nova All Suites Hotel
Citibank
Jamaica Money Market Brokers
Life of Jamaica
Manpower Maintenance Services
SuperClubs