(introduction...)
Most of the businesses that have developed a response to
HIV/AIDS have begun by initiating policies aimed at their workforces. This is a
reflection of the recognition by business of the impact of HIV/AIDS. More
recently anti-discrimination legislation, sometimes led by businesses in their
development of voluntary codes, in a growing number of countries has
necessitated, at the minimum, the development of a HIV/AIDS policy. For others,
workplace initiatives are a consequence of the identification that HIV/AIDS can
result in declining productivity, rising production cost and loss of market
positioning. In addition, some responses are a result of direct business
interests in HIV/AIDS, in particular the pharmaceutical and insurance
sectors.