The Supreme Court of Justice has confirmed a ruling ordering RD$2 million to be paid in compensation and annulled the firing of an employee of the government-owned EdeEste power distribution company who was diagnosed with HIV/AIDS. The employee had been fired and was paid his severance benefits. Labor lawyer Carlos Hernandez Contreras said that the decision would probably be reviewed by the Constitutional Court. He described the decision as unfortunate, saying that it sets a negative precedent. According to Hernandez, this means that no employee found to have AIDS could be fired under any circumstances. He said that the two other cases where employees are protected (pregnancy and labor union membership) have expiration periods.
CONSULTORIO LABORAL. Despido de exempleado portador de VIH-SIDA