Gold mining companies may pay employees with AIDS two years’ full pay as part of an ill-health retirement package, Anglovaal CEO Rick Menell told the World Economic Forum’s Southern Africa Summit yesterday (thursday).

The proposal was still being costed, and would be put on the negotiating table with the National Union of Mineworkers later this year, said Menell.  

According to the proposal, workers would go before a board to determine whether they were sick enough to retire. Once the board had agreed to their retirement, the workers would continue to draw a salary for two years and would get full death benefits.

“AIDS can be hidden. employees’ friends can cover up for them when they get sick. But with this proposal, employees get to spend the last two years of their life in the best possible environment,” said Menell.  

He added that the mining recruitment agency, The Employment Bureau of Africa (TEBA) was in the process of “converting to a rural development agency”, which would be able to reach out to AIDS sufferers at their homes through home-based care programmes.

“We believe this is a win-win situation and we will be putting the proposal to all stakeholders in the next two months,” said Menell.  

Menell said the National Union of Mineworkers had agreed to confidential, voluntary HIV/AIDS testing and counselling on condition that these were linked to wellness programmes. The mining houses had agreed and, as part of promoting wellness for those with HIV, were offering nutritional supplements and immune boosters.  

“Anti-retroviral treatment is provided to pregnant employees, rape victims and healthcare workers exposed to HIV,” said Menell. “We are involved in pilots to explore greater use of anti-retroviral drugs.”  

Over 200 000 workers are employed by gold mines in this country.  

Officials of the National Union of Mineworkers were in a national executive committee meeting and could not be reached for comment.