The 3rd ASEAN Women Leaders' Summit with the theme "Advancing the Caring Economy and Resilience towards the ASEAN Community beyond 2025" was held on August 23 in Vientiane, Laos.
The conference was attended by senior leaders, Ministers in charge of women's development and gender equality, and many outstanding female business representatives from ASEAN countries, Timor-Leste, partner countries and representatives of the United Nations.
On the Lao side, Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone attended the conference. The Vietnamese delegation was led by Deputy Minister of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs Nguyen Thi Ha, and attended with leaders of the Department of Gender Equality and the Department of International Cooperation, Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs.
Deputy Minister of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs presents solutions to promote the development of the care economy (Photo: TH).
Speaking at the Conference, Deputy Minister Nguyen Thi Ha affirmed that Vietnam always attaches importance to promoting gender equality, promoting the role, contributions and benefits of women in all aspects of social life, especially in the economic and labor fields.
Regarding promoting the care economy, Vietnamese law regulates "Care work" in the direction of recognition, reduction, and redistribution; considering unpaid care work to have an equal role with paid work.
"These are progressive regulations and ensure the promotion of gender equality. The Vietnamese Government has issued regulations and policies on domestic help, creating a legal corridor for the development of the social care system," Deputy Minister Nguyen Thi Ha emphasized.
In addition to public social care services, Vietnam is also encouraging agencies, organizations and individuals to participate in developing facilities and community care models through preferential policies on tax, land, credit, etc. to support households in more easily accessing and using social care services according to their needs.
Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone took a souvenir photo at the conference with female leaders (Photo: TH).
However, according to the Deputy Minister of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs, a survey in Vietnam shows that women spend nearly twice as much time doing housework as men.
This is creating a significant burden for women, reducing their ability to participate in the labor market; the current care economy in Vietnam still faces many challenges, not keeping up with the development of the promising economic sector in the future.
To address the challenges and promote the development of the care economy, Deputy Minister Ha emphasized a number of solutions.
Vietnamese delegation attends the Conference in Laos (Photo: TH).
Firstly, it is necessary to focus on investing in care infrastructure such as nurseries, elderly care centers and home care services; and perfecting and developing the social security system.
Second, promote policies that encourage men's participation in care work, reduce the burden on women and create conditions for both sexes to participate in the labor market equally.
Third, strengthen cooperation, information sharing, and promote the implementation of initiatives to enhance the self-reliance of businesses and female entrepreneurs in adapting to the ever-changing business environment.
Fourth, focus on communication and education to change social awareness about the role of care work.
Source: https://dantri.com.vn/an-sinh/4-giai-phap-phat-trien-nen-kinh-te-cham-soc-20240824083804090.htm
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