A nationwide campaign in Spain is raising awareness of the labour rights of people living with HIV, while strengthening the commitment of businesses, public administrations and civil society to combat stigma and discrimination.

Led by the non-profit association Trabajando en Positivo, the #YoTrabajoPositivo initiative is marking its tenth anniversary this year. For a decade, the initiative has travelled across Spanish cities raising awareness and advocating for the labour rights of people living with HIV, connecting companies, trade unions and institutions in this effort.

Medical advances have transformed the outlook for HIV. With timely diagnosis and proper treatment, people living with the virus can enjoy life expectancies and quality of life comparable to those of the general population. Nevertheless, stigma and discrimination remain real barriers to labour inclusion.

According to Spain’s Ministry of Health, 19% of the population report feeling uncomfortable at the idea of sharing a workplace with someone living with HIV. Similarly, the International Labour Organization’s Global Survey on HIV-related Discrimination in the World of Work (2021) revealed that a significant proportion of respondents (59.6%) supported measures that violate human rights, such as mandatory HIV testing for employment, highlighting the need to strengthen training and awareness. A further study, Experience of Stigma among People Living with HIV in Spain (Social Pact for Non-Discrimination and Equal Treatment Associated with HIV, 2024), reveals that many people with HIV still fear losing their jobs or being treated differently by colleagues if their status were known.

In this context, the initiative operates on three complementary fronts: providing evidence-based information, showcasing personal testimonies, and promoting good business practices. Together, these elements aim to dispel medical myths and transform workplace attitudes and organizational cultures.

Campaigns such as the #YoTrabajoPositivo Route play a vital role in spreading key messages that help to end stigma in workplaces including:

• HIV is not ordinarily transmitted in work environments.
• People living with HIV can perform any job with the same ability as anyone else.
• With effective treatment, people living with HIV can expect to live a normal lifespan and have full work capacity.
• There is no legal obligation to disclose HIV status in the workplace.

These messages are disseminated through public events, educational materials, and activities in public spaces, bridging the gap between scientific evidence and people's everyday experiences.

The initiative is also part of broader corporate social responsibility and equality promotion efforts in employment. Participation by companies in the Business Initiative Committed to HIV (Empresas Comprometidas con el VIH) has led to the development of internal policies that ensure HIV status does not negatively affect recruitment, retention or promotion processes. These policies also foster training and awareness among staff.

Over the past ten years, the #YoTrabajoPositivo initiative has created public spaces for dialogue on the right to work free from discrimination. It has brought scientific knowledge closer to the general public and fostered cross-sector collaboration.

Building on Spain’s commitment within the Global Partnership for Action to Eliminate All Forms of HIV-Related Stigma and Discrimination, the initiative shows how strong country leadership — combined with evidence, visibility, and collaboration — can transform attitudes and create fairer, more inclusive workplaces.