Gender equality and the invisible barriers to female labor.

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Currently, Vietnam has made significant progress in achieving gender equality, but in reality, female workers still face "invisible" barriers compared to male workers, especially in the areas of employment, income, and development opportunities.

The Ho Chi Minh City Federation of Labor organized a training course on women's work skills, including discussions on gender equality and gender mainstreaming in trade union activities.

To move towards a fair labor market, it requires not only legal regulations but also a shift in mindset from businesses and the community.

Invisible "barriers"

According to lawyer Nguyen Phan Bao Khuyen, a specialist at the Legal Consulting Center of the Ho Chi Minh City Federation of Labor, the average income of male workers remains higher than that of female workers. Specifically, in 2024, the average income of male workers was approximately 8.7 million VND/month, while female workers...   female workers   It's only about 6.5 million VND/month. Not only is the income lower, but female workers are also concentrated in low value-added industries, are easily replaceable, and have few opportunities for advancement.

There are "invisible" inequalities in corporate policies that put female workers at a disadvantage compared to male workers. "We once encountered a case where a company stipulated that employees could only be considered for the 'Outstanding Worker' award if they took no more than 3 days off per year. This regulation applied to all employees."   "Workers, while seemingly treated fairly, in reality many female workers have to take time off to care for sick children, leading to them not meeting the performance criteria," Ms. Khuyen said.

This is a form of indirect inequality, where regulations are "neutral" but produce unfavorable results for women. Pregnant women or women of childbearing age have almost no chance of being hired by many businesses, even though the law does not allow discrimination... This creates a form of unconscious bias in recruitment, causing women to be eliminated from the start without regard to their abilities."

Gender equality is not just about treating everyone the same, but about identifying real differences in order to develop appropriate policies and ensure genuine fairness.

Promoting gender equality

Ms. Nguyen Kim Loan, Vice President of the Ho Chi Minh City Federation of Labor, stated that in recent times, trade unions at all levels have implemented numerous programs to provide practical care and support for the material and spiritual well-being and healthcare of female union members. The City Federation of Labor has also continuously improved the quality of women's activities (the city currently has over 12,800 grassroots women's committees at the grassroots level). The "Excellent in work - Competent in household duties" movement, linked to the patriotic emulation movement, is increasingly widespread; and the number of female grassroots trade union officials is increasing.

City-level trade unions also focus on monitoring and evaluating the implementation of legal provisions and collective labor agreements related to the rights and interests of female workers; actively contributing opinions, proposals, and the development of legal policies and issues related to protecting the legitimate rights and interests of female workers.

The Ho Chi Minh City Federation of Labor organized a health check-up program for female workers at Son Tung Co., Ltd. (Linh Xuan Ward, Ho Chi Minh City).

According to Nguyen Thi Bich Dao, Chairwoman of the Trade Union at Bosch Global Software Technologies Co., Ltd. (a foreign-owned company specializing in information technology), the company currently employs nearly 4,000 people, with women accounting for 30%. The company always prioritizes equality in the workplace, constantly creating favorable conditions so that each individual, especially women, feels empowered, can maximize their potential, and receive deserved recognition. The Board of Directors also encourages and supports female employees on their journey to self-affirmation, particularly in leadership roles.

Lawyer Nguyen Phan Bao Khuyen argues that, in the field of labor, to thoroughly address the invisible barriers to gender equality, we need a comprehensive system of solutions such as: perfecting policies towards genuine equality; adjusting management criteria in enterprises; shifting from "formal fairness" to substantive fairness; strengthening control over discrimination in recruitment; enhancing the capacity and opportunities for female workers; reducing the burden of family care for women; and especially promoting the role of trade unions.

Source: https://baolangson.vn/binh-dang-gioi-and-rao-can-vo-hinh-voi-lao-dong-nu-5084086.html