HIV/AIDS Has a Major Impact on the World of Work: first global analysis

By ILO

An estimated 36.5 million people of working age have HIV, and by next year the global labour force will have lost as many as 28 million workers due to AIDS since the start of the epidemic.

This is part of the picture painted in the ILO report on HIV/AIDS and the world of work.

· The key findings include:

the direct impact is twofold. Millions have already died and millions more are dropping out of the labour force.

· Other economically active workers must then shoulder an increasing economic burden because colleagues and family are unable to support themselves and require assistance

· Thus adults have to drop at least part of their income producing activities to care for others

(ILO World of Work; no 52, November 2004)