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The impact of HIV/AIDS on the South African labour market

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2000. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: No disease in modern times has created as much fear and panic as HIV/AIDS -
undoubtedly one of the most formidable public health problems facing South
Africa today. Traditionally, HIV/AIDS has not been regarded as a workplace
issue, except for "high-risk" professions such as surgeons, dentists and
emergency medical technicians.
The stark reality is that HIV/AIDS will have an impact on all sectors of society and
all aspects of human activity throughout South Africa. Because of the nature of
the spread of the disease, it hits predominantly sexually active people. These are
the people that make up the workforce. It can therefore be expected that
HIV/AIDS will impact directly on the patterns of employment in South Africa.
Furthermore, the economic consequences of the epidemic will result in pressures
on the South African economy, which again will influence employment.
Apart from affecting the general population, HIV/AIDS will have a direct impact
on businesses in various areas. HIV/AIDS will also have a significant impact at
community level that will, in turn, impact on businesses. If business in South
Africa is to survive, these impacts have to be managed so that productivity can
be maintained and costs can be contained.
The objective of this study is to explore the impact of HIV/AIDS on employment
by examining the South African labour market. From the study, it is clear that
South Africa is certain to experience severe consequences arising from the
HIV/AIDS epidemic.
Even without taking the immense impact of HIV/AIDS into account, there are
various problems facing the' South African labour market. Specific problems
discussed are unemployment, low productivity and a shortage of skills. These are not the only problems associated with the South African labour market, but the
extent of these problems is further exacerbated by the impact of HIV/AIDS.
All sectors of the society need to be mobilised into action. This action must
encompass both prevention of the spread of the disease, as well as caring for the
sick and dying. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Geen ander siekte in die moderne tyd het al soveel vrees en paniek geskep as
MIV/VIGS nie ongetwyfeld een van die mees formidabele
gemeenskapsgesondheidsprobleme wat Suid-Afrika huidiglik in die gesig staar.
Oorspronklik was MIV/VIGS slegs met die werksplek geassosieer in terme van
"hoë-risiko" beroepe soos dokters, tandartse en nood mediese personeel.
Die naakte waarheid is dat MIV/VIGS 'n impak sal hê op alle sektore en aspekte
van die samelewing in Suid-Afrika. As gevolg van die aard van die verspreiding
van die siekte, tref dit hoofsaaklik seksueel aktiewe persone. Hierdie persone is
die lewensaar van die arbeidsmag. Dit kan dus verwag word dat MIV/VIGS 'n
direkte impak op werkverskaffingspatrone in Suid-Afrika sal hê. Die ekonomiese
gevolge van die epidemie sal verdere druk veroorsaak op die Suid-Afrikaanse
ekonomie, wat op sy beurt werkverskaffing sal beïnvloed.
Buiten die impak van MIV/VIGS op die algemene bevolking, sal die siekte ook in
verskeie areas van die besigheidsektor 'n uitwerking hê. Verder sal MIV/VIGS 'n
aansienlike impak op gemeenskapsvlak hê, wat op sy beurt weer 'n uitwerking
sal hê op besighede. As besighede in Suid-Afrika wil oorleef, moet hierdie
aanslae so bestuur word dat produktiwiteit gehandhaaf word en kostes onder
beheer gehou word.
Die oogmerk van hierdie studie is om die impak van MIV/VIGS op
werkverskaffing te ondersoek deur na die Suid-Afrikaanse arbeidsmark te kyk.
Van die studie is dit duidelik dat Suid-Afrika ernstige konsekwensies as gevolg
van die MIV/VIGS epidemie kan verwag.
Selfs sonder om die ontsaglike impak van MIV/VIGS in ag te neem, is daar
verskeie probleme wat die Suid-Afrikaanse arbeidsmark in die gesig staar. Spesifieke probleme wat bespreek word is werkloosheid, lae produktiwiteit en 'n
tekort aan gespesialiseerde vaardighede. Alhoewel hierdie nie die enigste
probleme is wat met die Suid-Afrikaanse arbeidsmark geassosieer word nie,
word die spesifieke probleme vererger deur die impak van MIV/VIGS.
Wat vereis word is dat alle sektore van die samelewing moet oorgaan tot aksie.
Hierdie aksie moet beide die voorkoming van die verspreiding van die siekte,
sowel as die versorging van die siekes en sterwendes omvat.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/51980
Date12 1900
CreatorsVan der Walt, I. C.
ContributorsRoux, A., Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic & Management Sciences. Graduate School of Business.
PublisherStellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Source SetsSouth African National ETD Portal
Languageen_ZA
Detected LanguageUnknown
TypeThesis
Format126 p.
RightsStellenbosch University

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