HIV attacks global labor

Many countries organize demonstrations to celebrate World Anti-Aids Day (Photo: AFP)

The ILO said HIV / Aids killed nearly 3.5 million people of working age in 2005. In addition, more than half a million jobs were lost every year due to this century, sub-Saharan Africa. Africa is the most affected.

In a speech commemorating World Day against Aids, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan said more efforts should be made to encourage open and frank exchanges about the HIV / Aids epidemic. Politicians as well as individuals must also see personal responsibility in preventing the spread of this pandemic, Mr. Annan said.

South Africa is currently one of the world's most infected countries, with more than five million people with HIV / Aids. BBC correspondent Peter Biles says there has been a significant change in Aids prevention policy, with governments committing to providing AVR Aids for patients.

Pandemic

In the ILO report, there is a call for sustainable global action to help people have access to anti-HIV drugs to reduce mortality. If this is not done, then the cumulative number of workforce deaths until 2010 will be 45 million, and double that figure by 2020.

The ILO estimates that more than 36 million working-age people are living with HIV, mostly in sub-Saharan regions. The ILO study also said that about 1.3 million jobs were lost every year between 1992-2004, reducing annual economic growth by an average of 0.5%, and 0.7% in the countries of Sub-Saharan region.

'HIV / Aids creates a huge burden for countries struggling to escape poverty , ' said Odile, author of the ILO report.

Healing is urgent

More than two million children suffer from Aids, while the number of people aged 15-24 accounts for half of new cases. The ILO said many children were forced to look for jobs where they lived in situations that were too poor, while their parents died of AIDS or were too ill to work.

The increase in child labor means reducing education standards, and it is difficult to find effective jobs when reaching the working age. Even children are forced to do sex work, and face a high risk of infection.

The ILO said that increasing the use of ARV Aids in treatment could significantly reduce the consequences of disease on the workforce.