Company policy on AIDS in Zimbabwe

This paper examines current and potential AIDS policy, and its orientation, at the workplace in Zimbabwe, and looks at the degree of concern that commercial companies have about AIDS. All 94 companies studied expressed some concern about AIDS, but only one third had developed a specific AIDS policy, and two thirds had begun AIDS education programmes. Major concerns expressed by the companies included the recruitment of skilled labour; rising insurance, health and pension costs; loss of time and productivity; and lowered morale. Twenty two per cent of them had some form of HIV screening in place, and 41% thought preemployment screening was justified. The paper notes current educational initiatives and makes recommendations for supportive and coordinated policy development.