HCM City (VNA) – A fact-findingtrip and a seminar on gender equality were held in Ho Chi Minh City on March 5by the Institute of Studies on Society, Economy and Environment (iSEE).

iSEE Deputy Director Hoang Thi Huong saidthe activities aim to clarify gender equality issue in workload distribution,salary, as well as payment for workers, the extension of retirement age andissues in creating a safe, friendly and equal working environment with welfarebenefits, among others.

From those activities, the institute andits partners will submit recommendations promoting gender equality to therevised Labour Code, along with raising public awareness and the voices oflabourers in relating issues.

At the seminar, representatives of manyfirms underlined that workload distribution is mostly carried out in an openand equal manner, based on workers’ capacity rather than their gender.Particularly, businesses focus on job description and guidance for workers fromrecruitment to facilitate their careers.

Nguyen Xuan Son from ManpowerGroup Vietnamsaid companies’ leaders must be pioneers in fostering gender equality. Inaddition, firms are advised to apply the technologies which support women towork from home.

Participants voiced their ideas thatretirement age should be on workers’ demand and capacity instead of theirgender. Lawmakers should consider the country’s current situation to setappropriate retirement age, which affects domestic firms and social welfarepolicy of the nation.

Recent survey by ManpowerGroup Vietnam showedthat the demand for female workers accounts for 50 percent in office work andgarment-textile and electronic sectors. Meanwhile, the rate of Vietnamese womentaking the leading role in businesses stands at about 33 percent. -VNA