Doing good business

Abstract

HIV/AIDS has received increased attention by the private sector over recent years with the launch of initiatives such as (RED), which provides additional money for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. Business leaders united again ahead of World AIDS Day 2008 on Dec 1 when they signed a pledge to end HIV discrimination and stigma in the workplace. The promise, drawn up by the Global Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GBC)—an alliance of over 200 companies—commits signatories to hiring, promotion, and retention decisions that are not influenced by an individual's actual or perceived HIV status. Among the 111 multinational businesses that have signed up are the chief executive officers from Coca-Cola, De Beers, and Nike Inc—companies with major workforces in countries ravaged by HIV/AIDS. GBC have labelled the pledge as a “historic” move. This public show of commitment to end HIV discrimination in the workplace should certainly be welcomed but with a few caveats. Although the pledge's list of signatories is long, the actual pledge is short at 91 words. It is not clear how companies will be held accountable, how their hiring, promotion, and recruitment policies will be monitored, and how whistleblowers will be protected. The GBC and signatories need to make these details public for their commitment to be taken seriously. The pledge also does not go far enough. A comprehensive business response to HIV/AIDS in the workplace needs to include voluntary HIV testing and counselling as well as prevention and treatment programmes for employees. A new pledge to provide such services should be drawn up ahead of next year's World AIDS Day. Companies that sign up would truly be taking a historic step towards tackling the global HIV/AIDS epidemic. Some businesses are already leading the way. The Lancet has previously reported on Heineken's programme that provides highly active antiretroviral treatment to its workers in Africa, which shows what is feasible. The private sector has an ethical and social responsibility to fight HIV/AIDS. But it also makes good economic sense for companies to protect their most precious asset—their employees.