Statements reek of discrimination against HIV/AIDS-individuals in the workplace

Kabataan Party-list Rep. Raymond “Mong” Palatino today criticized the “defensive stance” of a business process outsourcing (BPO) executive on the escalating number of HIV/AIDS-positive amongst the BPO workers.

“Why so defensive? The study conducted by the PNAC (Philippine National AIDS Council) clearly shows the alarming HIV-prone lifestyle of some BPO workers. It’s fact, not trivia,” said Palatino.

Palatino said that instead of being irrationally  defensive and trivializing the matter, BPO companies should face the problem and express collective concern given the work-related, unhealthy routine of their employees.

The young lawmaker also expressed anxiety over the BPO executive’s statement that “they conduct HIV tests before hiring,” saying that it reeks of discrimination against HIV/AIDS-infected individuals in the workplace.

“Their being positive of the disease should not be reason to reject them. It seems that we need to educate not only our BPO workers but their employers as well. Education and awareness is the resolution, not discrimination,” he said.

Palatino cited Republic Act 8504 or the Philippine AIDS Prevention and Control Act of 1998, Section 2, stating, “compulsory HIV testing shall be considered unlawful” and “discrimination, in all its forms and subtleties, against individuals with HIV or persons perceived or suspected of having HIV shall be considered inimical to individual and national interest.” ###