Abstract
M.Com. (Business Management)
HIV/AIDS infection is becoming one of the greatest threats the world has had to face the past century. opinions on the subject vary from doomsday scenarios to those that feel that it will just pass as another storm in a teacup, without having any real effect on society. since the indications are there that it is especially the economically active that are exposed to the infection, top management cannot take the chance of ignoring the
issue. Unfortunately this seems to be the case in South Africa, with the awakening of the new South Africa, new economic and political opportunities are openlng up for the
country. Business leaders cannot allow AIDS to jeopardise these opportunities. Because HIV/AIDS can take more than ten years before becoming visible, most societies, firms and even governments are still only paying lip service in dealing with the matter. AIDS has devastating economic consequences for affected individuals and their families. If the experience of other countries, and current trends in south Africa are
any indication, there is likely to be increasing discrimination in the work place, resulting in large numbers of those who are HIV positive losing their jobs. The burden on families who have to care for, and bury people dying of Aids, and consequently those who lose breadwinners, will be enormous. This will be aggravated by unemployment, by inadequate social support services and transfer payments, by discrimination of access to insurance and housing, and by the predicted inability of the health services to offer adequate care to affected individuals, and support of their families. HIV/AIDS is a reality for any work environment. It is therefore of vital importance for management to take cognisance of the important aspects in dealing with the problem. A formal AIDS policy is the only effective solution to prevent discriminatory practices in the workplace.
Finally, and most importantly, the AIDS epidemic in south Africa will be a terrible, and enormous human tragedy, through the potentially avoidable loss of hundreds of
thousands, and ultimately, millions of lives. In this study, the major implications of AIDS to be considered in company policy, dealing with the AIDS problem in the workplace and in particular the mining industry, are dealt with.