Media Release - The Ministry of Labour signs Memoranda of Understanding with Organisations to assist in their Development of Workplace Policies on HIV and AIDS

Monday 07 December, 2020 - Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago

The Ministry of Labour has signed Memoranda of Understanding (MOU’s) with seven (7) private and public sector organisations, signalling a commitment to address HIV and AIDS as a workplace issue through the development of workplace policies and programmes on HIV and AIDS.

The organisations are the Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce (TTCIC), The Trinidad and Tobago National Petroleum Marketing Company Limited, Trinidad and Tobago Blind Welfare Association, The Youth Training and Employment Partnership Programme Limited (YTEPP), The National Center for Persons with Disabilities, The Trinidad and Tobago Registered Nurses Association and Best Start. The signings took place on Tuesday, December 1, 2020 at the Ministry of Labour’s Head Office located in Port of Spain.

The Ministry of Labour, through its HIV Workplace Advocacy Unit (HWAU) will provide technical support and training to these organisations to aid the development and implementation of their Workplace Policies.

Permanent Secretary (Ag.) in the Ministry of Labour, Ms. Natalie Willis reiterated the significance of the signing of the Memoranda on World Aids Day and referred to the specific element of shared responsibility for addressing HIV/Aids in the workplace through policy development and implementation.

Manager of the HIV Workplace Advocacy Unit, Ms. Heather Rodney reiterated the theme of this year’s World AIDS Day ‘Global Solidarity Shared Responsibility’ is significant in the protection of the rights of persons living with HIV/Aids in the workplace. She stated that “Meeting the United Nations 95, 95, 95, targets by 2030 can be achieved by consistent interventions while treating HIV as a work place issue”.

The Memoranda of Understanding seeks to ensure:

1. The Organisations’ ownership, sustainability of the HIV and AIDS Workplace Policy and Programme.
2. Establish procedures to manage HIV and AIDS in the workplace.
3. Support for HIV and AIDS prevention, non-discrimination, care, treatment and to inform workers about resources within the community.

Representatives from the partner organisations stated that they were indeed pleased to sign the agreement for the development of these workplace policies with Mr. John Gormondy of the Trinidad and Tobago National Petroleum Marketing Company (NPMC) Limited acknowledging the importance of developing an HIV Workplace Policy. He expressed his commitment to continued collaboration with the HWAU to ensure that NPMC adopts the National Workplace Policy on HIV and AIDS.

For further information on the National Workplace Policy on HIV and AIDS or the services of the HIV Workplace Advocacy Unit (HWAU), contact the HIV Workplace Advocacy Unit (HWAU) at: 299-0300 Ext. 2008, 2010, 2011 or via email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.