An Evaluation of the Policy Framework on HIV and AIDS in the South African Public Service: The Effectiveness of the Current Guidelines and the Ability of the Policy Framework to Absorb the Impact of HIV and AIDS within the Public Service

Abstract

This study seeks to determine firstly, the extent to which the public service is implementing the policy framework on managing HIV and AIDS in the workplace and establishing employee assistance programmes (EAPs) as a service to people living with HIV and AIDS at both national and provincial levels. Secondly, it seeks to determine whether or not the current policy framework is able to absorb the probable impact of HIV and AIDS in the workplace and, thirdly, to investigate, determine and define the roles of EAPs in addressing the problems of HIV and AIDS in the workplace within the South African public service. A situational analysis approach was used, including profiling, scoping, surveying, interviewing, focus groups, impact assessments, evaluation and gap analyses.