Promote gender equality in the social sector

These limitations and challenges pose a need for an inclusive and gender-responsive social policy system to effectively solve social problems to ensure social security for all people, towards the goal of progress. and social justice.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and UN Women jointly organized a national consultation workshop on developing a national action plan on women, peace and security in Hanoi, November 6, 11. (Source: VNA)

Remarkable results

In recent years, Vietnam has made many significant achievements in promoting gender equality and the advancement of women and has been recognized by the international community. According to the World Economic Forum (WEF), Vietnam's 2023 gender gap index ranked 72nd out of 146 countries participating in the ranking, up 11 places compared to 2022.

According to the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), Vietnam's human development index (HDI) in 2021 ranked 6th in Southeast Asia; Vietnam's gender inequality index (GII) continued to improve in 2021, reaching 0,296, ranking 71st out of 170 countries.

In addition, Vietnam continues to strengthen policies and laws on gender equality, such as the Law on Support for Small and Medium Enterprises (2017); National Strategy and Program on combating gender-based violence (period 2021-2030); Amending the Law on Prevention and Control of Domestic Violence (2022); Amendments to the Labor Code (2019) and recently the National Action Plan on women, peace and security.

Vietnam has the highest rate of female political participation in the world. According to the Report of the Vietnam Women's Union, the proportion of female party committees at all three levels of the country in the 3-2020 term increased compared to the previous term, exceeding the target of 2025%. The rate of female deputies to the 15th National Assembly reached 30,26%, the highest since the XNUMXth National Assembly.

Female leaders and managers in ministries, central and local branches in 2023 will increase compared to 2022. The largest increase is female department-level leaders: 437/1874 women hold the positions of Deputy Directors, Deputy Directors and similar positions. equivalent, reaching 23,3%, an increase compared to 2022 of 364; There are 77/765 women holding the positions of Director, Department Head and equivalent, reaching 10,06%, an increase compared to 2022 of 72. Currently, there are 8 female Deputy Ministers and equivalent, 3 female Ministers and equivalent, currently working. Responsible for very important ministries and branches of the Government. For localities, there are 4.279 female Chairmen and Vice Chairmen of People's Committees at all levels, accounting for 13,9%, an increase compared to 2022 of 4.243.

With the goal of ensuring and further promoting gender equality; Enhance the role, position, voice, rights, obligations and responsibilities of women in participating in the fields of peace and security, contributing to maintaining peace, stability and sustainable development of nationally and internationally, on January 25, 01, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang signed Decision No. 2024/QD-TTg approving the National Action Program on women, peace and security in the period 101-2024.

As part of the workforce, women's participation and position in the economy is increasingly being affirmed as important to the country's economic growth and sustainable development goals.

In recent years, Vietnam has made many significant achievements in promoting gender equality and the advancement of women and has been recognized by the international community. (Source: Koenig Solution)

Inadequate social issues related to gender equality

Currently, a number of inadequate social issues related to women and gender equality need to be resolved such as:

One is, Although the 2019 Labor Code has been expanded, there are still shortcomings related to policy regulations for female workers. The gender gap and gender issues in the field of labor and employment still exist, such as the labor force participation rate (62,2% for women compared to 74,2% for men in 2022) and the quality of the labor force. The size of the female labor force is still lower than that of men; The proportion of women working in the most vulnerable jobs such as "self-employed workers and unpaid family workers" is higher than that of men (48,5% compared to 40,4% in 2022); The rate of workers with informal jobs is higher for men than for women (68,9% compared to 62,3% in 2022).

Secondly, Gender stereotypes about the status and role of women, along with the burden of housework and family care, are factors that prevent women from participating in activities of poverty reduction policies and programs. The principle of "prioritizing women does not ensure equal opportunities for women as "subjects" or "implementers" of poverty reduction policies and programs in the National Target Program for Sustainable Poverty Reduction in the period. 2016 - 2020 and policies for poor and near-poor households have not been fully specified in implementation guidance documents.

Third, In the field of social insurance and unemployment insurance, the number of female workers receiving one-time social insurance (social insurance) is more than male workers; Maternity benefits have low coverage and have not applied a comprehensive, systematic approach to sharing child care responsibilities between men and women; Regulations on the maximum time to enjoy sickness benefits in a year for employees based on the time they have paid social insurance may disadvantage female employees because they have a shorter paid working time than men. .

Regarding unemployment insurance, regulations on subjects participating in unemployment insurance are more disadvantageous for groups of female workers, who are the most vulnerable group in the group with labor relations, and at the same time do not have an unemployment insurance policy. voluntary for workers with informal jobs and no labor relationship.

Four is, In the field of social assistance, the capacity of consulting, providing information, and supporting gender equality of the system of social work centers is still limited; There is a lack of technical and professional guidance documents for staff working in consulting and supporting gender equality. The monitoring - evaluation and reporting system in the field of social assistance and the statistical indicator system on social assistance do not have indicators fully disaggregated by gender.

Year is, Access to basic social services has not been given due attention. Admission regulations by route can affect access to the public education system for children of female migrant workers. Vocational training for disadvantaged groups, ethnic minorities, and women has not been given due attention and is not gender responsive.

Some legal regulations in the health sector are affecting access to health services for some groups of women and children, such as regulations on registration of medical examination and treatment facilities based on permanent household address. residence (according to Clause 3, Article 22, Law on Health Insurance); Access to and quality of prenatal and postpartum maternal health care and reproductive health care are still limited; There is a lack of information, statistics and evidence that takes into account gender differences in some areas of maternal and child health care.

Six is, Information and propaganda work is limited for some ethnic minority women groups due to language and writing barriers. The capacity of communications officials to detect and handle gender equality issues is uneven and limited.

Promote gender equality in the social sector

By absorbing new experiences and achievements in internalizing international commitments on empowering women and promoting gender equality, aiming at the goal of progress and social justice, building a political system Inclusive and gender-responsive social policies, in the coming time it is necessary to focus on solving the following issues:

First, In the field of labor and employment, it is necessary to ensure that workers have sustainable, suitable jobs and income to ensure the reproduction of labor and to feed their families. Strengthen policies and programs to support job creation for workers. Modernize the connection between labor supply and demand, labor market forecasting and human resource management, and build a labor and employment database separated by gender.

Monday, It is necessary to change the approach to gender mainstreaming in poverty reduction programs and policies, and at the same time, specify mechanisms and regulations, including adequate budget and resource allocation to implement mainstreaming. gender in reality.

Tuesday, Developing a flexible and diverse social insurance system, focusing on amending and supplementing voluntary social insurance policies based on the principle of ensuring gender equality to encourage female workers to participate. Improve the management and investment mechanism of the Social Insurance Fund safely, effectively and sustainably. In addition, it is necessary to improve policies, fully promote the functions of unemployment insurance, and implement synchronous solutions to support businesses to maintain production and business and workers to reduce unemployment.

Wednesday, Complete the system of policies and laws on social assistance. Develop and diversify social assistance services, build a flexible social assistance system, adapt to possible risks, with special attention to women.

It is necessary to change the approach to gender mainstreaming in poverty reduction programs and policies, and at the same time, specify mechanisms and regulations, including adequate budget and resource allocation to implement mainstreaming. gender in reality. (Source: State Organization Magazine)

Thursday, Ensure some basic social services for people to ensure that disadvantaged groups, including women, are beneficiaries. Specifically:

(i) strive to achieve and maintain over 95% of the population participating in health insurance; By 2030, the average life expectancy of people will be about 75 years old; Maternal mortality rate related to maternity falls below 42/100.000; The expanded vaccination rate reached 95% with 14 types of vaccines; The rate of stunting malnutrition in children under 5 years old is less than 15%; basically end tuberculosis;

(ii) Strive to complete universal preschool education for preschool children by 2030; The school attendance rate at the correct age at the primary level reached 99,5%, at the lower secondary level reached 95%, at the high school level and equivalent reached 75%; 90% of provinces and cities meet level 2 literacy standards; The rate of ethnic minority children completing lower secondary school reached 90%;

(iii) ensure quality housing for all people; create social stability and housing welfare for all classes of people. Strive by 2030, the average housing area per capita nationwide will reach about 30 m² floor/person;

(iv) strengthen support for people to access information and digital technology, especially in remote areas, island borders and protect people and vulnerable groups safely in the online environment.

Friday, continue to strengthen communication work, raise awareness of gender equality, and apply information technology to raise awareness among people of all walks of life about gender equality.

References

1. World Economic Forum (WEF, 2023), Report "Global Gender Gap 2023". The Global Gender Gap Index is a measure used to evaluate the current status and development of gender equality on four main aspects including economics, education, health and politics.

2. UNDP (2023), Global Human Development Report (HDR) 2021/22.

3. CARE, Oxfam & SNV, 2018. Independent assessment of gender in the National Target Program for Sustainable Poverty Reduction for the period 2016 - 2020.

4. UN Women, 2020. Report reviewing the results of implementation of the National Strategy on Gender Equality for the period 2011 - 2020.