Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2005. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Sunday Times (Johannesburg) - December 4, 2005
The mining, transport and manufacturing companies report that profitability has been affected, but only in a small way.
Financial services companies are concerned about the effect of HIV/Aids on their client base and on their investments.
HIV/Aids has the largest impact on productivity and absenteeism, followed by employee benefit costs. Companies are also experiencing higher labour turnover rates, lost skills and higher recruitment and training costs.
WHY?
THE survey attempts to give a snapshot of how HIV/Aids has affected various sectors.
About 20 million people have died from HIV/Aids since the first cases were diagnosed in 1981, and sub-Saharan Africa is the worst affected region, being home to 65% of the 39.4 million people living with the virus.
In South Africa, between 15% and 20% of all adults are estimated to be infected. The country has the largest number of people (about five million) living with HIV/Aids in the world.
The social and economic consequences of these figures remain far-reaching and will affect almost every aspect of life in the country.
Companies that employ mainly semi-skilled and unskilled workers have mostly highly skilled workers.
WHERE TO?
COMPARED with other sectors, financial services, mining, transport and manufacturing are dealing with the epidemic in an integrated and proactive manner. Of great concern is the slow response by certain sectors, especially the building and construction, retail and wholesale sectors, says Brad Mears, CEO of Sabcoha.
As the private sector grapples with the daily effects of HIV/Aids, many broader policy questions remain unclear, he says. Though significant progress has been made in the area of self-funded treatment programmes, fringe-benefit tax, and medical aids, much work remains to be done. The efficacy of the SA National Aids Council and barriers to foreign funding for private sector projects remain areas where breakthroughs are desperately needed.
"Leadership still remains the key to overcoming the epidemic," says Mears.
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