The event was jointly held by the Ministry of Labour, War Invalids and SocialAffairs, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment ofWomen (UN Women), and the Australian Embassy in Vietnam.
The panels also talked about effective strategies and interventions, and putforth policy recommendations for the revision of the Labour Code and build anequal working environment for both men and women.
Opening the workshop, deputy head of the National Assembly’s Committee forSocial Affairs Le Thi Nguyet said it is necessary to shift the approach tobuilding regulations in the revised Labour Code from protecting female workersto promoting gender equality.
Specific provisions on female workers in the current Labour Code should focuson measures to promote gender equality and maternity protection for both maleand female workers, she added.
Chief Representative of the UN Women in Vietnam Elisa Fernandez said theamendment to the Labour Code provides an opportunity for Vietnam to addressrecommendations of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms ofDiscrimination Against Women (CEDAW) including the application of the samecompulsory retirement age to men and women and the reduction of prohibitedoccupations for women.
Promoting gender equality in employment is not only the matter of rights butalso contributes significantly to the country’s sustainable economic growth,she suggested.
The revision of the Labour Code will create numerous opportunities for Vietnamto implement its commitments to promote gender equality and resolve relevantissues, especially when the country is engaging in international treaties onhuman rights and labour.
In a gender impact assessment report conducted in late 2017, the UN Women, theAustralian Embassy in Vietnam and the Investing in Women put forthrecommendations to ensure and promote gender equality without discriminatingoccupational opportunities, skills and capacity development for men and women.
The report proposed some major changes to the draft revised Labour Code such asnarrowing and eliminating the retirement age gap between male and femaleworkers, strengthening regulations on addressing sexual harassment at workplaces,and providing measures to protect the reproductive function of all sexesinstead of only focusing on female workers.-VNA