The impact of HIV/AIDS on the productive labour force in Africa

Abstract

This paper is an attempt to review the ramifications of HIV/AIDS for the workforce in the formal and informal sectors of urban economies as well as in rural locations, It is part of the International Labour Organisation's (ILO) efforts to. develop strategies to reduce the impact ofthe scourge. Attention neec;!s to be paid to various dimensions of employment including employment levels, labour productivity, security and mobility in order for realistic programmes to be inaugurated which would minimise the consequences of the disease. Special consideration will be given to East and Central Africa, now known as the AIDS belt, where HIV/AIDS is presently at its worst, although concern is for the entire continent.