On Sunday, the Ministry of Health and Welfare announced plans to submit revised legislation to the National Assembly to protect the human rights of HIV/AIDS patients and outlaw discrimination against them. "The revision will greatly expand the right to labor of those suffering from HIV/AIDS. So far, the government could not discipline those discriminating against them in employment, promotion or job training, as there has been no disciplinary regulation on the cases," said a ministry official.

The official said the bill follows the World Health Organization's recommendation to ban discrimination against HIV/AIDS patients who are in otherwise good health. When HIV/AIDS patients experience poor health, their employers would have to treat them the same as workers with any other disease. Employers would not be able to fire workers because they have HIV/AIDS, and the same sick-leave polices would apply to HIV/AIDS patients as to other workers. However, HIV-infected persons would still be barred from working in "red light" districts.

Employers who violate the policies could face up to one year in prison or fines of up to $3 million won ($3,058 US). The legislation calls for the central government and local authorities to mount educational campaigns to fight prejudice and the spread of HIV, and it mandates that health authorities accommodate those testers who wish to remain anonymous. It also makes provisions for informing the families or spouses of those testing positive. The revised bill drops the current requirement that medical providers report the deaths of AIDS patients to regional health authorities.

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