A new ILO report highlights the powerful role workplaces can play in expanding HIV testing and treatment, especially for men and groups often excluded from health services. Released on World AIDS Day, the report shows how the ILO’s Voluntary Counselling and HIV Testing for Workers initiative has become a key driver of inclusive health and wellness in the workplace.
Between 2021 and 2024, the initiative reached nearly 2.5 million workers with HIV-related information and facilitated 1.5 million voluntary HIV tests. Of these, 1.1 million were men, marking a major step toward narrowing the gender gap in HIV diagnosis. More than 48,000 workers who tested positive were referred for life-saving antiretroviral treatment, helping to reduce disparities in access to essential care.
Despite global progress, men still lag behind women in HIV outcomes. Fewer men know their HIV status, fewer are on treatment, and fewer achieve viral suppression. The ILO emphasises that workplace initiatives are essential for closing these gaps, while also promoting dignity, inclusion, and safety by addressing gender-based violence, stigma, and discrimination.
The report showcases how the VCT@WORK initiative reaches groups usually left out of formal health systems, including mining workers in South Africa, migrant workers in India, refugees in Cameroon, persons with disabilities in Mozambique, and truck drivers in Kenya. Many workers, particularly in the informal economy, value HIV self-testing because it is convenient, confidential, and reduces the time and income lost when visiting health facilities.
Grounded in ILO Recommendation No. 200, the programme guarantees confidentiality and voluntary participation. It relies on rights-based workplace policies, trained peer educators, and supportive management to build trust and encourage participation. By integrating HIV testing into broader workplace equality, health, and social protection initiatives, the programme also helps reduce stigma and expand access to essential services.
In India, the initiative linked construction workers to state welfare boards, enabling them to access subsidised land and other benefits. Workers who tested positive described how counselling, treatment, and social support helped them regain stability in their lives.
Beyond HIV, VCT@WORK has introduced integrated testing for non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and hypertension, strengthening workplace wellness and helping employers maintain a healthy workforce.
By embedding HIV and NCD testing within workplace wellness and social protection systems, the ILO demonstrates how rights-based approaches can create safer, healthier, and more resilient work environments, while contributing to the broader goal of ending AIDS as a public health threat.
