Young people living with HIV are finding it hard to find employment, even though they have the necessary competence and skills. The practice of mandatory HIV testing remains common. Job applicants are often denied employment if they are found to be HIV- positive.

“It’s already hard to find a decent job and if you’re a young person living with HIV, it becomes twice as hard,” says Yahir Zavaleta, 27, from Mexico City, Mexico. Yahir shares his own experience of being denied a major career opportunity because of his HIV status. “I had successfully completed my apprenticeship with the company and I was about to be hired when I was told that I was not ‘medically suitable’ for the job.”

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