1. HIV/AIDS Situation in Bangladesh and Trade Union Movement
Presented by:
Promila Podder,
Bangladesh Sramik League

2. Bangladesh : Population & Labour Force
population : Million
Area : 1,47,570 Sq. km.
Population density: 904/sq.km.
Population growth rate: 1.48%
Literacy rate : 62.66% 
Life expectancy : 64.9 years
Total labour force : 46.3 million (15+)
Workers in agriculture sector :63.2%
Workers industry and other sectors : 36.8%

3. Vulnerability to HIV/AIDS
Prevalence of HIV relatively low
Neighbor to major countries of epidemics like India and Southeast Asia
Frequent migration across national borders
High rate of poverty
Gender inequality
Inadequate health care system
Sex workers often have unprotected sex
Injection drug users often share needles

4. How Bangladesh acts against HIV/AIDS
The government has adopted a national policy on HIV/AIDS
A National body has been formed to combat the epidemic
A separate research cell has been introduced.
Has developed a fund to combat the situation
Lot of NGOs are working in this field with foreign donations and cooperation.
There are huge publications
Billboards, posters all these are seen here and there in the country
Mass media also plays vital roll.

5. Risk for Working People
Returning migrants workers, transport workers, specially truck drivers, rickshaw pullers, floating construction workers are in most risky position.
Country labour law and labour policy do not have any provision on dealing with the vulnerability of HIV/AIDS among the workers.
The NGOs, Media, social organisations and the civil society yet to consider the vulnerability as a workplace issue.

6. Workplace Situation
The government is yet to take workplace level policy to combat the HIV/AIDS
Absence of Health Screening System at workplace
Presence of Social Stigma and Lack of knowledge
Lack of health education and health care facilities
No budget in purchasing contraceptives

7. Position of Trade Union on the issue
Trade Unions are not directly involved with the formulation of policy on HIV/AIDS at the National Level
Trade unions are yet to feel HIV/AIDS as a workplace issue
HIV/AIDS should get importance like Occupational Health and Safety at workplace
Trade Union policy keeps no provision on HIV/AIDS
There is few special campaign by the Trade Unions (a campaign among the truck drivers was conducted)
We hardly see any Collective Bargaining on the issue by the CBAs.

8. BILS Initiative for Public Transport Authority
Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) has 19 Training Centres in different districts in the country that provide training for their workers
Bangladesh Institute of Labour Studies-BILS undertook a Pilot project for BRTA workers along with its TU and Managers
It sensitized TU on HIV for lobbying with management
It developed union's capacity to train up its members and workers on this issue
It provided TOT for the Drivers & Instructors of BRTA
Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) has included the Training Manual for Transport Workers on HIV/AIDS as their Regular Curriculum

9. Case Study: RASTA (Street)
An Initiative for truckers in association with CARE Bangladesh
Provides Peer Training for the workers
Established 74 Community Health Care Centres for general treatment and recreation
Supports raising awareness of the workers and their families
Introduced a good number of billboards to provide information
Organises campaign, rally etc. to aware community people
It has been recognized as a model in South-Asia and followed in different countries

10. The Road Ahead
HIV/AIDS is a threat to the people of Bangladesh but now the real threat is lack of knowledge on it. There is general sense among the people of the country is “We are not attacked and we will never.” And that is the real problem.