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Jun 07, 2018 / 16:21

Vietnam affirms the priority of ensuring rights of female workers

Ensuring the rights of female workers is a priority of the Vietnamese Government, said Deputy Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Nguyen Thi Ha.

Ha made the remarks at the plenary session of the 107th the International Labour Conference in Geneva, Switzerland on June 6.
 
The Vietnamese delegation at the International Labour Conference in Geneva, Switzerland
The Vietnamese delegation at the International Labour Conference in Geneva, Switzerland. Photo: VNA
The Deputy Minister cited the issuance of laws and policies in Vietnam to enable women to improve their management and leadership capacity, and easily access to capital. 
One of the targets of Vietnam’s national strategy on gender equality for 2011-2020 is to reduce the gender gap in the fields of economy, labour and employment, and enhance the access of poor women in rural areas and women of ethnic minority groups to economic resources and the labour market, she stressed. 
She said programs and projects on vocational training, employment, workplace safety, sustainable poverty reduction and support for female entrepreneurs have helped women approach job opportunities, join the labour market, escape from poverty and improve their economic rights. 
Pointing out challenges caused by the fourth industrial revolution to women who may be weeded out from the official economy or have fewer job options, Ha stressed the need to raise public awareness of the role and potential of female labourers. 
She suggested integrating gender equality into policies on human resources at the national level. 
 
Deputy Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Nguyen Thi Ha. Photo: VNA
Deputy Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Nguyen Thi Ha. Photo: VNA
In the region, Vietnam has ran initiatives to promote women’s position such as the ASEAN Women Entrepreneurs’ Network, she said, adding that Vietnam is working with other member economies of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum to materialise the APEC Gender Inclusion Guidelines, while ensuring gender equality within the UN agenda on sustainable development by 2030. 
Ha thanked the International Labour Organization (ILO) for its support for Vietnam’s approval of resolutions on the reform of social insurance and salary policies. 
Vietnam has also cooperated with the organization to prepare for the amendment of the Labor Code, as well as in the spheres of gender equality, labour relations, vocational training and workplace safety, contributing to enhancing capacity for the Vietnamese Government and its social partners. 
Vietnam wishes to receive more support from the ILO and its members in accelerating the reform of labour-related laws, especially policies on social insurance and labour relations, and implementing the Vietnam-ILO national cooperation program on sustainable employment in 2017-2021, she said. 
The official affirmed Vietnam’s commitment to fulfilling its membership obligations and promoting effective collaboration with the ILO and partners in Vietnam.