He emphasised the need to give priority to the gender aspect, saying that thisdraws the attention from the Vietnamese and Australian Government as well asinternational organisations and policy makers.
Women’s economic empowerment is an equal access to resources and economic opportunitiesas well as the elimination of structural gender inequality in the labour market,including a better sharing of unpaid care work, said Raymond Mallon, senioradvisor of the Restructuring for a more competitive Vietnam project.
He also noted that women’s occupational choices are limited by discrimination inthe labour market, stressing that comprehensive market institutions will allow womento gain an equal access to resources and reduce inequality.
It is necessary to better supervise and understand impacts of economic reformon women, he said.
Mai Thi Dieu Huyen from the Vietnam Women Entrepreneurs Council under the VietnamChamber of Commerce Industry (VCCI) called for solutions to help women achievecareer promotion, adding that supporting them will eradicate poverty,contributing to sustainable development of society.
The workshop was co-organised by the CIEM and the Australian Embassy in Vietnam.-VNA