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HIV discrimination against domestic workers

    JOHANNESBURG

    South African domestic workers who are pressured or tricked into taking HIV tests by employers are often dismissed if they test positive.

    Although it is illegal to test someone without their consent or fire them because of their HIV status, the AIDS Law Project (ALP), an advocacy group, claims this has happened to a "significant number" of domestic workers.

    A local newspaper, The Cape Times, quoted the ALP's Liesl Gerntholtz as saying: "These dismissals are unlawful discrimination against a very vulnerable group. It's terrible that this is happening - it is a serious problem."

    Gerntholtz noted that ALP was currently working on four cases, but suspected there were many more.

    This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions

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