Moscow (ILO News) – In Russia the growth rate of identifiable HIV cases is now one of the world’s fastest: in 2003 the HIV incidence increased almost 40 times as compared to 1997. If such growth continues, the country’s working population may decrease by 1.1 million in 2015, and by 2.1 million in 2050.New three-year ILO/US Department of Labour project, launched in Moscow today, aims to contribute to the prevention of HIV/AIDS in the world of work, the enhancement of workplace protection and the reduction of its adverse consequences on social, labour and economic development. In the Moscow and Murmansk regions a number pilot enterprises from different sectors will be assisted in developing non-discriminatory HIV/AIDS policies. Their workers will be motivated to change their behavior in order to decrease the risk of HIV infection, and not to stigmatize workers living with HIV/AIDS. This new policy and behavior change education model, adapted to the specific conditions of Russia, may in the future be replicated in other regions of the country, as well as in other CIS states. Speaking at the launch, Maxim Topilin, Head of the Federal Labour and Employment Service, noted that “our main objective is awareness raising and teaching tolerance to persons living with HIV/AIDS. Our collaboration with the social partners is a guarantee of the project success”. The social partners expressed their full support to the new project. Mikhail Shmakov, Chairman of the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Russia, particularly underlined the role of prevention. Oleg Eremeev, Chairman of the Coordinating Council of Employers’ Unions, assured that the employers will make their contribution to the project activities. “Workers need to have the necessary knowledge to make the right choices and avoid infection. Workers must also feel confident that they will not face discrimination in the workplace when they undergo an HIV test. Voluntary testing represents a vital link in any HIV/AIDS preventionstrategy, but workers will not want to take a voluntary test unless they know they can keep their job and, if necessary, get treatment”, said the United States Ambassador to the Russian Federation Alexander R. Vershbow.“We see this launch of the ILO/USDOL project as another opportunity for us to work together with our tripartite constituents to support the national efforts to combat HIV/AIDS in Russia. The successful implementation of this project will lead to the creation of a sustainable capacity to implement workplace HIV/AIDS policies and programmes in key sectors of the economy”, said Franklyn Lisk, Director of ILO Programme on HIV/AIDS and World of Work.