An evaluation of social responsibility initiatives on HIV/AIDS in the workplace : a case study of the Kwazulu-Natal South African Social Security Agency (SASSA-KZN)

[摘要] HIV/AIDS in the present South African context remains fraught with obstacles and challenges. The previous regime's willingness to turn a blind eye to the pandemic, combined with the confused response of the present government, has accelerated the disease and its devastating impact to pandemic proportions Nattrass (2004:41). This has put additional pressure on other sectors to respond. While civil society challenges government's delaying tactics and seeks to ease the plight of those living with HIV, organizations are called upon to act, in the interest of the stability of the national economy and their own survival. This study on 'An Evaluation of Social Responsibility on HIV/AIDS in the Workplace is located within the conceptual framework of social security (or social assistance) and corporate social responsibility. The study argues that social security is one intervention to protect the plight of the poorest of the poor masses from falling below an acceptable standard of living, thus exacerbating their vulnerability to HIV/AIDS. The study therefore poses a challenge to the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) which is involved in the provision of social grants within communities. While there are workplace interventions implemented by certain organizations in the country, a lot of organizations do not regard HIV/AIDS with the real commitment and care needed for genuine change. That said, this study will therefore look at the impact of HIV/AIDS within SASSA-KZN, as its primary objective. The study will further try to establish how much help SASSA-KZN provides for its labour force which is infected and affected by HIV/AIDS and also to determine the excellence/quality of any existing interventions employed by SASSA in mitigating HIV/AIDS in the families of its employees as well as in the communities in which it operates. The secondary objective of this study is to test a set of hypotheses, that very little funding is allocated by SASSA-KZN for HIV/AIDS intervention strategies, and that many employees are not aware of HIV/AIDS policies/programmes within SASSA-KZN, as well as a lack sufficient understanding of HIV/AIDS management by some SASSA-KZN managers. The study will also provide some recommendations and serve as an information resource which other companies can utilize in mitigating their individual HIV/AIDS problems.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University