Collective Bargaining Agreement: National Employment Council for the Catering Industry in Zimbabwe HIV-AIDS and TB Policy

The Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare has approved an HIV, AIDS and TB policy agreed in the National Employment Council for the Catering Industry between the Catering Employers Association of Zimbabwe and two unions — the Zimbabwe Catering and Hotel Workers Union and the Catering and Hospitality Workers' Union of Zimbabwe. It applies to all catering employees, including casual, fixed-term and permanent staff, interns, apprentices, trainees and suspended workers, and company policies must line up with it.

Employers must keep workplaces free of discrimination based on real or perceived HIV status. HIV screening may not be a condition of employment or any other work activity. Where testing is offered at work it must be done by qualified health staff, be voluntary with written consent, stay confidential and include counselling before and after. Employees who are medically fit keep working, may be moved to suitable posts without losing benefits, and are otherwise handled under normal ill-health procedures. Medical information must be kept securely, and breaches of confidentiality handled through disciplinary procedures.

Companies must run health and safety programmes to reduce exposure, provide free protective clothing and equipment to staff at risk, give information on post-exposure prophylaxis, make condoms available, and provide HIV and TB education, including promoting testing, voluntary male circumcision and STI treatment. They should help staff access affordable treatment and counselling, encourage medical aid that covers chronic conditions, set up referral systems and support groups, and include HIV and TB programmes in annual budgets.

The NEC will set up an industry HIV, AIDS and TB committee (its chair or appointee, two employer and two union members, and the General Secretary), and each company a committee of a delegated official, two employer representatives and two workers' committee members. Every employee must get a copy of the policy. Failure to comply is an offence, with penalties under section 16 of the Labour (HIV and AIDS) Regulations, 2014 (S.I. 105 of 2014). The agreement was signed on 3 July 2025 and gazetted on 31 July 2026.