The event, entitled “Enhancing Social Protection and Public Services to Promote Women’s Participation in the Labour Market”, was held by the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA) in cooperation with the United Nations in Vietnam.

Participants agreed that job placement for women recorded progress over the time, noting that female workers accounted for 48 percent of those who found jobs in 2018.MoLISA Deputy Minister Nguyen Thi Ha speaks at the event (Photo: VNA)

The labour market has seen remarkable development, attracting more female workers, they said, adding that quality of jobs for women was still low.

Women mostly work in agricultural and informal sectors, under poor working conditions and receive unstable income. Women’s income is also lower than that of their male counterparts.

There is a lack of policies supporting women working in industrial zones and urban areas, and some existing regulations hinder job access of female migrant workers. Gender discrimination, violence and especially sexual harassment towards women, still occur at the workplace.

At the event, participants put forward numerous recommendations to promote women’s engagement and leadership in policy dialogues relating to social protection, public services and sustainable infrastructure, thus enhancing the productivity and opportunities of women working in the informal economy.

Furthermore, due attention should be paid to the gender factor in statistics collection with a view to introducing suitable policies.

The participants also called for strengthening mechanisms which ensure gender equality and encouraging the involvement of the private sector.

UN Resident Coordinator in Vietnam Kamal Malhotra said the Vietnamese Government needs to build more policies to promote women’s participation in the labour market, thereby contributing to the implementation of the country’s action plan for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Social protection system, public services and sustainable infrastructure are indispensable spheres in the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the 2030 Agenda on sustainable development goals, he affirmed.

MoLISA Deputy Minister Nguyen Thi Ha said that the event will serve as reference for the ministry and relevant agencies to propose future policies and cooperation activities on gender equality, fostering women empowerment towards the realisation of the Government’s action plan towards the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

It will also contribute to Vietnam’s report to be presented at the 63rd session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women, which will take place in New York, the US, in mid-March, she said.

VNA