( L - R ) Falconer, Chang

DR HORACE Chang, minister of water and housing, is proposing that pretesting for HIV before employment should be the right of the employer.

However, Chang is warning against discrimination.

He said HIV, which causes the chronic disease AIDS, should be included in tests like any other disease.

"Therefore, if an employer wishes to test a potential employee for medical problems - AIDS, hypertension, diabetes - if they wish to do so it's their right to do so, they are employing them," he said Wednesday during a meeting of a joint select committee of Parliament at Gordon House.

The committee is examining the Green Paper on National Workplace Policy on HIV/AIDS.

Opposition senator Sandrea Falconer supported Chang's position, noting that while employees should be protected, the rights of the employer should not be ignored.

She argued that an employer has a right to recruit an employee who is healthy and who could contribute to the productivity of the company.

Medical testing

"I think we have to be careful that we have a pretty good balance, so that we are not going in one way and end up discriminating against the employer," the senator added.

But, during further deliberations, Chang appeared to have adjusted his position.

A medical doctor by profession, Chang said that testing for the disease should be done after employment, unless medical testing was a specific requirement for a particular type of job.

The senior government minister said legislation should be drafted to make it illegal for employers to bar individuals from employment because they were HIV positive.

Stigma

Julia Bonner Duett, AIDS programme officer in the Ministry of Health, told the committee that disclosure is the desired approach to protecting persons with HIV and AIDS. However, she said stigma against persons with the disease still poses a serious problem.

Director of the Occupational Safety and Health Department at the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, Robert Chung, said testing should not be used for screening potential employees.

He said no employee should be fired because he/she is HIV positive.

At the next meeting of the committee, technical personnel from the ministry of health will conduct a sensitisation programme on HIV and AIDS for its members.