By Funmi  Komolafe @ the 99th International Labour Confab in Geneva, Switzerland

GENEVA— For the   first time in the history of the International Labour Organisation, ILO, governments, employers and workers have  adopted a new international labour standard on HIV and AIDS which is described as the first international human rights instrument to focus specifically on the issue in the world of work.

Nigeria was one of the countries that  gave support to the adoption  of the new standards.

It was adopted at the on-going 99th session, by  a vote of 439 to four, with 11 abstentions by delegates to the  conference. The  adoption followed  two years of intense and constructive debate.

The standard is the first internationally-sanctioned legal instrument aimed at strengthening the contribution of the world of work to universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support and contains provisions on potentially life-saving prevention programmes and anti-discrimination measures at national and workplace levels.

It also emphasied the importance of employment and income-generating activities for workers and people living with HIV, particularly in terms of continuing treatment.

It also adopted a resolution on its promotion and implementation that invites the ILO governing body to allocate greater resources on the new standard and requested  that a Global Action Plan be set up to achieve its widespread implementation and regular reporting from members.