OpiniãoInternational Labour Office. (1998). Technical and ethical guidelines for workers' health surveillance (OSH n72). Geneva, Switzerland: ILO.
Sagoe-Moses, C., Pearson, R. D., Perry, J., & Jagger, J. (2001). Risks to health care workers in developing countries. The New England Journal of Medicine, 345(7), 538-541.
Tereskerz PM, Jagger J. (1997) Occupationally acquired HIV: the vulnerability of health care workers under workers' compensation laws. Am J Public Health, 87:1558-1562
Supported by Existing Guidelines:
ILO/WHO guidelines on health services and HIV/AIDS, 2005- 71 "in accordance with national law and practice:"
- 71. In accordance with national law and practice, health-care workers employed by both the public and the private sectors should be covered by sick pay, an insurance, and social security and/or workers' compensation scheme providing coverage at least equivalent to that enjoyed by workers in other sectors. Health-care workers living with HIV/AIDS should not be discriminated against in terms of access to welfare and other statutory benefits. At the same time, adjustments may be needed to respond to the way the disease develops, for example by extending sick leave and, if necessary, coverage for other benefits. If existing provisions or schemes need adjustment to take into account the special requirements of HIV-related illness, this should be the subject of negotiation between management and the union or the workers' representatives.
ILO/WHO PEP guidelines, 2008:
- Social security systems and occupational health schemes should provide benefits for workers who have contracted HIV infection at work similar to those received by workers for other industrial injuries, diseases, or illnesses. The same principles should apply to managing compensation for occupational exposure to blood and body fluids or tissues as to any industrial accident.
- In the absence of national compensation guidelines, individual employers may be able to develop their own compensation package using ILO's Convention 121 as a basis. However, employers should bear in mind that the mechanism for providing worker compensation needs to be consistent with national occupational health and safety regulations. Governments, employers and workers' organizations are responsible for ensuring that all the necessary steps are taken to make compensation available for workers who contract HIV in the workplace.