Standard Definitions and Concepts

Air-borne Infection Control (AIC): Air-borne Infection Control (AIC) measures are a set of practices that minimizes the spread of airborne transmission of infections. These precautions are generic for all airborne infections, but they also contribute to reduce the spread of TB.

Corporate TB Pledge: The Corporate TB Pledge (CTP) is a joint initiative of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India and US Agency for International Development (USAID) with an objective of galvanizing corporates to jointly work towards a shared vision of eliminating TB from the country.

Discrimination: As referred to in the ILO Convention No. 111, discrimination is defined as any distinction, exclusion or preference which has the effect of nullifying or impairing equality of opportunity or treatment in employment and occupation.

Formal Sector: The formal (organized) sector includes primarily those establishments which are covered by the Factories Act, 1948, the Shops and Commercial Establishments Acts of State Governments, the Industrial Employment Standing Orders Act, 1946 etc. This sector already has a structure through which social security benefits are extended to workers covered under these legislations.¹

Industry: “Industry” means any business, trade, undertaking, manufacture or calling of employers and includes any calling, service, employment, handicraft, or industrial occupation or avocation of workman.²

Informal Sector: The informal sector, also known as the unorganized sector, consists of all unincorporated private enterprises owned by individuals or households engaged in the sale and production of goods and services operated on a proprietary or partnership basis and with less than ten total workers.³

Organization: An organization is an entity such as a company, an institution, or an association comprising of one or more people and having a particular purpose. There are a variety of legal types of organizations, including corporations, governmental and non-governmental organizations, political organizations, international organizations, armed forces, charities, not- for-profit corporations, partnerships, cooperatives, and educational institutions, etc. The organization may have either/both permanent and contractual workers.

Presumptive TB: Individuals with presumptive TB are those with signs or symptoms suggestive of TB disease and where further diagnostic workup including bacteriological investigation is required.

Peripheral Health Institute: A Peripheral Health Institute (PHI) is a health facility under the National TB Elimination Program (NTEP), manned by at least a Medical Officer (MO), where diagnosis and management of TB are done. It can be a public or private health facility.

Private Sector: The private sector or enterprise refers to the businesses that are owned by a private group or an individual.

Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs): Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) means any corporation established by or under any Central, State or Provincial Act, which is owned, controlled or managed by the Government.

Reasonable accommodation: Any modification or adjustment to a job or to the workplace that is reasonably practicable and enables a person having TB to have access to, or participate or advance in, employment.

Stigma: Stigma is described as a phenomenon whereby an individual with an attribute that is deeply discredited by her/his society is rejected as a result of that attribute. It is a process by which the reaction of others spoils normal identity and which disqualifies the individual from full social acceptance⁴

Workplace Policy for Ending TB: Workplace Policy for ending TB refers to the document published by State Government/ institution/ enterprises in sync with national policy document ‘Policy Framework to address Tuberculosis, TB related co-morbidities and HIV in the World of Work in India.

TB Free Workplace: A TB Free Workplace is defined as a workplace where systems are implemented to protect the workforce from TB and sufferings due to TB and it includes provisions for-
-    Ensuring a stigma and discrimination-free environment for all workers affected with TB
-    Generating awareness about TB among all workers
-    Promoting early & complete diagnosis of TB among the workers
-    Supporting correct & complete treatment for all workers affected with TB, while respecting confidentiality of their medical information.
-    Connecting workers affected with TB to social protection/welfare schemes and other public health measures for a comprehensive care
-    Providing nutritional support to all workers undergoing treatment for TB
-    Preventing transmission of TB in the workplace
-    Ensuring reasonable accommodation for all workers affected with TB to enable them to participate or advance in employment.

TPT: Tuberculosis Preventive Treatment (TPT) consists of a course of one or more anti- tuberculosis medicines given with the intention of preventing the development of TB disease. TPT is given to people who are infected with TB bacteria or have been exposed to it but presently do not have an active TB disease.

Worker: Worker refers to any person working under any form or arrangement. An employee, a contractual worker etc. can all be referred as workers.

Workplace: Workplace refers to any place in which workers perform their activity.
 

References:

¹ The Factories Act, 1948.
² Section 2(j) of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947
³ National Commission for Enterprises in the Unorganized Sector (NCEUS).

⁴ Strategy to End Stigma & Discrimination Associated with Tuberculosis, NTEP. Central TB Division, MoHFW, GOI. 2021