Twenty-six companies have pledged to seek a policy of indiscrimination of HIV/AIDS employees in their workplaces within China and then to promote an anti-AIDS cause for the wider community.

The member companies of the Global Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS (GBC), which has more than 200 companies as members including dozens in China, have agreed to do their bit to stem the HIV/AIDS tide in China. The GBC yesterday announced it would look at protecting and educating staff about the disease.

Their commitments came in response to Vice-Premier Wu Yi's call on Chinese and international companies to take action at the March 18th Ministry of Health and GBC Joint Summit.

Trevor Neilson, GBC's executive director, said businesses have a responsibility to protect employees living with HIV/AIDS and that no one should be unfairly denied employment based on their HIV status.

The 26 companies, most of which are multinationals, have already established, or have committed to implement, non-discrimination policies for HIV/AIDS for their China-based employees before World AIDS Day on December 1, 2005.

"Business sector involvement on HIV/AIDS in China is extremely limited so far and our work is just beginning," said Priya Bery, GBC's Director of Policy and Research.

"Our goal is to encourage more business action against AIDS in China through the GBC's work, and its Beijing office will open later this summer," Bery said.

"We would like to increase the number of Chinese companies and the work of international companies involved in our cause."

Priya Bery believes the business sector has unique skills and expertise and could be effecting in fighting HIV. She urged Chinese companies to seize the opportunity and take responsibility in addressing the issue.

As well as commitments to non-discrimination policies, companies like Booz Allen Hamilton, Glaxo Smith Kline, Gobon Guilin Latex, Horizon Research Group, MSD China and Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide have all announced additional measures.

"Each individual company must educate its employees and look outward to see how it can contribute to combating HIV/AIDS in China," said Bill Valentino, General Manager of Corporate Communication, Bayer (China) Limited.

In December, Bayer China and Tsinghua University started a joint "Tsinghua-Bayer Media Studies Programme" to enhance China's media professionals' skills and capabilities in public health reporting,and to promote other public health issues in China.

Chinese companies have also responded to GBC's appeal. SOHU.com is providing office space for the GBC's Beijing office.

(China Daily May 19, 2005)