Instituto Nacional de Seguros Develops HIV/AIDS Labor-Sphere Guidelines

The institution's mission includes providing insurance services in an excellent, efficient, competitive, and cost-effective manner, with social responsibility, promoting casualty prevention, and meeting the demands of clients, users, and brokers. The INS employs over 2100 people, operating in main and branch offices and sales outlets throughout the country. As part of its institutional policy, the INS promotes the professional development of its employees in an environment that is free of discrimination and harassment, with equal opportunities, personal acknowledgement, promotion, development, compensation, and protection for fundamental human rights, according to current laws. The institution has a specific Corporate Social Responsibility program based on five important issues: health, prevention, volunteerism, environment, and community. The INS also sponsors citizen-participation projects, such as the Occupational Health Week and various Exhibitions/Fairs. In March 2014, the INS developed its policy with "Institutional Guidelines to Manage HIV-AIDS Cases", included in the "Corporate Social Responsibility Policy of the INS Financial Group". The guidelines are based on International Labor Organization norms and set within the national legal framework provided by the Political Constitution, the Labor Code, and the Guideline to Prevent and Address HIV, issued by the Ministry of Labor's Occupational Health Council. The technical accompaniment provided by USAID|PASCA LMG enabled several work sessions with representatives from the INS Human Resources Department, supported by the Policy Builder tool. As part of HIV Policy implementation, various activities were undertaken to celebrate World AIDS Day in November and December 2014. A note titled "Protection Must Be Our First Option" was published in the INS Bulletin, and employers were encouraged to participate in an "AIDS World Day March". An article, "World AIDS Day", was published on December 1 in the INS Bulletin, calling for all staff to be aware of the importance of prevention and to keep an open mind so as to not discriminate people with the disease. The institutional webpage displayed a red ribbon in December, to commemorate World AIDS Day, promoting the policy that has been shared with all employees. The INS covers several social-service and cultural entities, such as the Firefighters Corps, the Jade Museum, the Trauma Hospital, and several health clinics. The institution's commitment to social responsibility implies a commitment to show respect and to promote people's rights, as stated in the INS's mission and policy. The INS's efforts to promote HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention demonstrate its dedication to this commitment.