Representatives from only six of 25 companies showed up for a breakfast meeting Friday to explore HIV/AIDS risk reduction among employees and non-discrimination to those living with the disease in the workplace.

The companies represented were Facey Commodity, Deloitte & Touche, Singer, Hardware & Lumber, Supreme Ventures and Red Stripe.

The Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ) in partnership with the Ministry of Health had targeted some 30 Chief Executive Officers (CEO) or their representatives as leadership advocates on HIV/AIDS in the workplace at the special function held at the Terra Nova All-Suite Hotel in Kingston.

Horace Peterkin, CEO of Peterkin Hospitality Services Limited and former general manager of Sandals Montego Bay, on Friday expressed disappointment at the low turnout.

He said in order for a workplace programme to be effective, it must be driven from above because if top management is not committed, it will not work.

“This is why I am so disappointed at this morning’s turnout because I know from experience that some managers believe HIV is not their problem,” he said.

Peterkin said with more than 6,000 large companies in Jamaica, only 25 are members of the Jamaica Business Council on HIV/AIDS.

“I am not sure how many are taking this seriously,” he added.

In urging companies to get on-board, Peterkin cited the successful implementation of an HIV/AIDS programme at Sandals.

This programme, he said, was implemented through an organisational structure which consisted of chairman, CEO, managing director, and general manager at the top; followed by executive committee members such as the human resource manager, resident nurse, and environmental safety manager; followed by peer counsellors who were employees trained by Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCo).

He said team members were trained about HIV/AIDs through several initiatives such as new hire orientation programmes on HIV, newsletters, daily briefings, heads of department meetings, life skills seminars, weekly medical clinics and HIV awareness competitions.

“Using these methods we managed to eliminate discrimination and if someone was suspected of HIV they would be helped, not ostracised.” He said, adding that employees are now eagerly volunteering to get tested.

Pointing to the consequences of not having a workplace programme for HIV employees at companies, Peterkin said this can affect productivity as well as loss of valuable manpower.

“I urge those without a policy to get on board as it is not very difficult,” he said.

Mark McKenzie, managing director of Red Stripe and vice- president of the PSOJ, said that his company too had an HIV policy as well as trained personnel who counsel staff on HIV and other personal issues.

“If an employee wants to get tested they can, but there is no policy that requires you to,” he said.

Faith Hamer, policy manager at the Ministry of Health, also expressed disappointment that more persons did not accept the invitation to be a part of the discussions and to commit to implementing the programme at their companies.

She said companies should have a workplace policy and action plan stating the organisation’s commitment to the national response.

Meanwhile, Ainsley Reid, who is living with the disease, said companies should acquaint themselves with data to understand the basic facts about the disease, efforts to control it and get involved by integrating programmes in the workplace for empowerment of staff to manage their own risk.

“HIV is manageable and it is everybody’s business,” he said.