Women make up the majority of workforce in the textile industry (Photo: VNA)Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - Women should be free to choose the job they wantto do without being hindered by discriminations on the grounds of their genderor physical capabilities.
This was the message from Pham Thu Lan, deputy head of Institute of Workers andTrade Unions under Vietnam General Confederation of Labour at a policydiscussion entitled “Eight equal hours” in Hanoi on December 20.
The discussion is a part of a joint project to accelerate gender equality inthe revised Law of Labour implemented by the Institute of Society, Economy andEnvironment (iSEE) in collaboration with Oxfam Vietnam, Vietnam Chamber ofCommerce and Industry (VCCI), Care International in Vietnam under thesponsorships of the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade andAustralian Government’s Initiative of “Investing in Women”.
Although the 2013 Constitution, the 2006 Law of Gender Equality and the 2012Law of Labour stress against gender-based discriminations including employmentopportunities, there still remain regulations implying different treatmentstoward female workers.
Employers are prohibited to use female workers for 77 jobs. For example, womenare banned on driving tractors over 50 horsepower.
“The list affects female workers and their rights of working, their will,employment opportunities and income. We need to have a different approach whenit comes to priorities for women. They need to be empowered and to be free tomake choices,” she said.
Sharing the opinion, Do Ngan Binh from the Hanoi University of Law, member ofthe advisory group on amending the Law of Labour, said female workers needmechanisms to have equal opportunities as their male counterparts.
In the workplaces, for example, Binh said the lack of a legislated definitionof “sexual harassment” as well as rights and responsibilities of employers inpreventing the issues in the current law created loopholes in applying theregulation in reality.
She suggested having appropriate mechanisms to handle sexual harassmentsagainst both female and male workers for a safer working environment for all.
Experts also touched upon equal pay for equal work and equality in approachingemployment opportunities and sharing family responsibilities.
“Gender inequality at workplaces can discourage female workers, making themunwilling to contribute more. By empowering women and offering equalopportunities for all, we can motivate them to thrive and push the companyforward,” said Do Thi Thuy Huong, member of Viettronics Company’s board ofdirectors. — VNS/VNA
This was the message from Pham Thu Lan, deputy head of Institute of Workers andTrade Unions under Vietnam General Confederation of Labour at a policydiscussion entitled “Eight equal hours” in Hanoi on December 20.
The discussion is a part of a joint project to accelerate gender equality inthe revised Law of Labour implemented by the Institute of Society, Economy andEnvironment (iSEE) in collaboration with Oxfam Vietnam, Vietnam Chamber ofCommerce and Industry (VCCI), Care International in Vietnam under thesponsorships of the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade andAustralian Government’s Initiative of “Investing in Women”.
Although the 2013 Constitution, the 2006 Law of Gender Equality and the 2012Law of Labour stress against gender-based discriminations including employmentopportunities, there still remain regulations implying different treatmentstoward female workers.
Employers are prohibited to use female workers for 77 jobs. For example, womenare banned on driving tractors over 50 horsepower.
“The list affects female workers and their rights of working, their will,employment opportunities and income. We need to have a different approach whenit comes to priorities for women. They need to be empowered and to be free tomake choices,” she said.
Sharing the opinion, Do Ngan Binh from the Hanoi University of Law, member ofthe advisory group on amending the Law of Labour, said female workers needmechanisms to have equal opportunities as their male counterparts.
In the workplaces, for example, Binh said the lack of a legislated definitionof “sexual harassment” as well as rights and responsibilities of employers inpreventing the issues in the current law created loopholes in applying theregulation in reality.
She suggested having appropriate mechanisms to handle sexual harassmentsagainst both female and male workers for a safer working environment for all.
Experts also touched upon equal pay for equal work and equality in approachingemployment opportunities and sharing family responsibilities.
“Gender inequality at workplaces can discourage female workers, making themunwilling to contribute more. By empowering women and offering equalopportunities for all, we can motivate them to thrive and push the companyforward,” said Do Thi Thuy Huong, member of Viettronics Company’s board ofdirectors. — VNS/VNA
VNA
