Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2004. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Sunday Times (Johannesburg) - August 1, 2004
Adele Shevel
Meanwhile, research shows that businesses have been virtually oblivious to the impact of the Aids pandemic.
Brad Mears, chief executive of the SA Business Coalition Against HIV/Aids (Sabcoha), says: "The fact that we now have higher mortality among our working population has a potentially catastrophic effect on South Africa's ability to work."
Mears says business is experiencing a shortage of skills among semi-skilled and skilled workers. "You can't replace institutional memory", he says, referring to people in the workplace who lose their lives and are replaced by workers with less experience.
The mining, manufacturing and transport sectors have been most affected. Sean Jelley, CEO of HIV/Aids management firm Lifeworks, says the rump of the employee base is between 25 and 45. "HIV prevalence is greatest in the age group between 30 and 39."
He says investment lost because of HIV/Aids is significant and hard to replace. "You often have to replace the deceased staff with younger people and the costs of training are significant."
The uptake of more people in the younger age group may soak up excess capacity among the pool of the unemployed, "but you're losing skilled people and replacing them with unskilled and that's a huge cost".
He says indications are that prevalence of HIV/Aids among the unemployed is higher than among the employed.
"Prevalence among contract employees tens to be higher than among permanent employees."
Sunter says the shift in prevalence "means whereas in the late 1990s the workforce was being infected but this was not affecting productivity, now people are exhibiting full-blown Aids and that is when it starts taking its toll".
He says big business has moved into treatment, but small and medium businesses have been slow to respond.
040801
ST040801
Copyright © 2004 - The Sunday Times. Reproduction of this article (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the Sunday Times Permissions Desk.
AEGiS is a 501(c)3, not-for-profit, tax-exempt, educational corporation. AEGiS is made possible through unrestricted funding from Boehringer Ingelheim, Bridgestone/Firestone Charitable Trust, Elton John AIDS Foundation UK, the National Library of Medicine, AIDS Walk of Orange County, and donations from users like you.
Always watch for outdated information. This article first appeared in 2004. This material is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between you and your doctor.
AEGiS presents published material, reprinted with permission and neither endorses nor opposes any material. All information contained on this website, including information relating to health conditions, products, and treatments, is for informational purposes only. It is often presented in summary or aggregate form. It is not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professionals. Always discuss treatment options with a doctor who specializes in treating HIV.
Copyright ©1980, 2004. AEGiS. All materials appearing on AEGiS are protected by copyright as a collective work or compilation under U.S. copyright and other laws and are the property of AEGiS, or the party credited as the provider of the content. .