The Indonesian Ministry of Manpower, with support from the ILO, launched the National Action Plan on Preventing and Handling HIV/AIDS at Workplace 2024-2028 on 18 October as part of the effort to reach the goal of Ending AIDS in Indonesia by 2030. Attended by more than 300 participants offline and online, the launch was marked with the hitting of a virtual gong by Heri Sutanto, Director of Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Empowerment of Ministry of Manpower, witnessed by Michiko Miyamoto, ILO Country Director for Indonesia.

“This National Action Plan is part of the implementation of the Manpower Ministerial Decree No. 68/2004. The National Action Plan acts as a guideline in synergising actions for HIV/AIDS prevention and handling at workplace level by all relevant stakeholders. Workplaces have an important role in implementing and supporting the prevention and handling HIV/AIDS programme at workplace,” said Heri in his opening remark on behalf of Haiyani Rumondang, Director General of Labour Inspection and OSH.

As part of the launch ceremony, the National Action Plan was handed over to the representatives of relevant ministries, employers’ and workers’ organizations and the HIV/AIDS organization. Appreciating their contributions, Michiko Miyamoto highlighted the crucial role of workplaces in preventing and handling HIV/AIDS.

“The HIV pandemic has become one of the most critical workplace issues of our time. Through the implementation of the National Action Plan at district and city levels, it is hoped that stigma and discrimination against people living with and affected by HIV/AIDS will be eliminated and fundamental rights at work will be respected,” she said.

The National Action Plan aims to accelerate the achievement of the HIV fast tracks 95-95-95 and three Zeros—zero new infection, zero AIDS related death and zero discrimination. The implementation of the National Action Plan is targeted to high-risk companies in 12 provinces covering 27 districts and cities that have been selected as ASEAN Cities Getting Zero.

Specifically, the National Action Plan outlines three priority targets:

1. A minimum of 500 companies from HIV high-risk sectors on the first year of the implementation with an additional of 100 companies for the next year onward have a good understanding about HIV/AIDS, implement a programme on HIV/AIDS prevention and handling and develop a non-discriminatory company policy;
2. Around 5 percent from the companies above facilitate voluntarily HIV/AIDS test, support and care, in coordination with health services if needed.
3. All the companies under point No. 1 implement non-stigma and discriminatory policies by not making HIV test as a requirement for job recruitment, placement, promotion and contract extension and by having a reporting mechanism on stigma and discrimination.

The National Action Plan is implemented by the Ministry of Manpower, Manpower offices at provincial, district and city levels, companies and trade unions. The programmes and activities under the National Action Plan are implemented with fundings from the state funding, provincial funding, international aids, companies and other resources.



The launch was followed with two interactive discussions. The first discussions responded to the publication of the National Action Plan. Afsar Syed Mohammad, Technical Specialist for HIV/AIDS of the LO’s Gender, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Branch in Geneva, was one of the panels, together with representatives of the Ministry of Manpower, HIV Workplace Working Group, the Indonesian Employer’s Association (Apindo) and the national confederation.

“I really appreciate the initiatives taken by the Indonesian government with the publication of this National Action Plan. It does not only show the commitment of country to the elimination of the HIV/AIDS but also to the implementation of the HIV/AIDS prevention and handling that has reached the district and city levels, making sure the achievement of Ending AIDS,” he said.

The second discussion talked about progresses and challenges in promoting the HIV fit to work and the development of HIV/AIDS prevention programme at workplace. During the discussion, representatives from the Ministry of Health, a multinational company, a health clinic and an HIV organization dealing workplace issues shared their experiences and lessons learnt.

Sofyudin, Head of OSH doctors of PT Tirta Investama (Danone-Aqua), shared the experience of dealing with the HIV related status. “We do not focus on the diagnose, but we focus on the competency. Thus, we treat HIV disease just like any other diseases such as heart and cancer diseases. Our experiences show that most people with HIV, especially those who have a good treatment, are fit to work. They are competent to do assigned works,” he told.

Meanwhile, dr Incilia Cutami, Board Director and Partnership Manager of Angsamerah Clinic, shared the experience of the clinic when assisting a company organizing an VCT@Work programme—a voluntarily HIV test and counselling. Despite a one-month programme announcement, for example, the number of workers participating in the programme tends to be lower than expected.

“We learn that workers still have self-stigma and discrimination against HIV. Although we strongly emphasize the confidentiality and the test result will only be given to the worker, many workers are still hesitant and afraid that their result will be positive and the company will know and they will lose their jobs,” explained Incilia.

The launch event concluded with the highlight about the importance of the National Action Plan to strengthen the awareness raising and socialization of HIV programme at workplace, build working environments that are free from stigma and discrimination, break myths against HIV/AIDS and continue to provide referral mechanisms for further counselling and treatment.