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South Africa's National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) has decried the compulsory HIV testing of mine workers, local newspaper the Mail and Guardian reported online on Monday.
The need for a compulsory testing policy follows a recent case which ruled that a local mine worker's death was the result of injuries sustained in a mineshaft, and not his HIV status.
While mining giant Anglo-Platinum has argued that compulsory testing could benefit workers by allowing them placement in less hazardous positions, concerns are that HIV-positive miners would be the target of discrimination.
NUM president, Senzeni Zokwana, said HIV-positive miners would be the first considered for retrenchments if compulsory testing was implemented by the mining industry.
"The issue of placement is not a new one. The problem is that mining companies may find up to 40 percent of their workforce is HIV-positive - who will go underground then?" Zokwana said.
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
