Living with HIV in the Philippines: On Working Abroad

Good day.

Im 27 years old and i found out that i am positive since last year and i keep thinking working abroad. My pag asa pa po bang akong makapag trabaho abroad kong meron man pls share kong anung mga bansa ang nag aallow na mag work people that who are positive in hiv.

johnmyk

POZZIEPINOY’S RESPONSE

Hi Johnmyk.

Thank you for your email. Thank you for reading the blog.

I am glad that you are now thinking about how to make your life better by thinking of pursuing your dreams outside the country. I am proud of you for planning your life like how people without HIV do. Some people living with HIV (PLHIV) restrict themselves even with their career, thinking that the stress brought about by their jobs can hurt their health. However, any vocation is a part of life. We need to live our lives to the fullest, even with HIV. We need to establish good relationships even with HIV. We need to reach our dreams even with HIV. We are no different from others. Our dreams are their dreams. Our skills are the same as others. Our thoughts and feeling are the same as the rest. We just have to tweak our attitude and trust everything will be fine. The conditions ONLY are that we need to take our medicines regularly and have regular check ups. Everything else will follow.

Now going back to your question, there are certain countries that prohibit PLHIV from working. These are Singapore and the Arab countries. Although this situation of discrimination has been rallied against by the entire world, still the restriction to work there is still legal. So if I were you, try not working there.

Also, when applying for work outside the Philippines, you need to be gutsy at application level. For one, agencies representing their foreign employers require an HIV test as part of their medical exam. If you won't pass the medical exam because of the HIV test, it is up to the agency if it will accept you for placement or not. You may want to present "fit to work" certificates from your doctor. Another question that you experience from the agency is the question of who will take care of your ARV's. Usually governments of other countries don't want to be burdened health care expenses by new employees, unless the employer will cover your health care. Of course this is something that need to be discussed between you, the agency and the employer when it comes to your employment.

Most of the countries in the world do not discriminate HIV anymore, however like what I said, you need to take a lot of guts to present yourself and to show how competent you are for the job you are applying for.

I hope that I was able to answer your question. Please feel free to email me again if you have other concerns. You may also call our TRR HIV Hotline Numbers below:

0919-642-9286

0977-131-2046

0906-389-2402

0917-899-0473

0927-823-0300

0917-932-3122

0916-216-2066

If you want to join a private HIV support group in Facebook, please add me, Pozzie Pinoy and request to be added in the group. We have a lot of PLHIV, counselors, HIV doctors, advocates and supporters who you can talk to.

I hope I was able to answer your concerns. Feel free to email me again if you have other questions.

Stay healthy,

Pozziepinoy

"WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER.

NO PLHIV is alone with his or her struggle with HIV!"

-Pozziepinoy-

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