Larsen and Toubro Ltd: Examples of workplace HIV action

May 11, 2003

Examples of workplace action

Larsen and Toubro Limited, India

Larsen and Toubro is one of the biggest private companies in India,

engaged in engineering, equipment manufacture and construction. It

has manufacturing facilities in twenty locations throughout India.

Larsen and Toubro has a history of responding to HIV/AIDS dating back

to 1985 when it first launched an awareness-raising programme. The

company carries out:

Awareness-raising programmes - These have involved training 85

trainers and social workers in 200 training programmes, which have

thus reached 10,000 employees, 4,500 family members and 1500

schoolchildren. A particular focus of the programmes is youth,

including apprentices, graduate trainees, employees' children and

local municipal schools.

Care and support - The Company actively promotes non-discrimination

and support for people living with HIV/AIDS. In partnership with the

government and NGOs, the company provides counselling and assistance

for those affected. Peer education is used to reduce stigma and

promote acceptance of employees who are living with HIV/AIDS.

Spreading the message - Larsen and Toubro helped form The Industry

Response to AIDS, a grouping of senior management from 13 companies

based in Mumbai. The company has also contributed to the writing of

policy guidelines for industry in India and attempts to share its

programmes and expertise with other companies.

The following are some of the lessons learned from their long-

standing experience:

1. A multi-layered response is necessary in large companies with

several plants.

2. Education and prevention have to be built into the training

strategy of the company.

3. It is essential to involve trade unions in the planning and

implementation of programmes.

4. Peer educators play a key role in both prevention and care.

5. Education materials should be multicultural and multilingual, and

appropriately directed at specific target groups.

6. The company's programme implementation department should be

positioned as a professional, neutral and non-threatening body

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