Women’s role promoted in new rural area development

Dang Thi Hong Nga from the Phu Yen provincial Women’s Union said local members have contributed to the development of road networks and welfare facilities.

 “Local women have responded positively to the movement of building new rural areas. They have registered since the beginning of the year with local government what contribution they could make, especially in environmental protection, land offer for road building and other public works," she said.

The Congress also discussed ways to improve the efficiency of vocational training and protect the rights of female workers. Women’s employment has been of the top concerns of Vietnam.

By November 2016, the total capital for employment fund reached US$217 million, helping to generate about 60,000 jobs each year for women. In addition, since 2011 Vietnam has sent from 80,000 to 100,000 people to work abroad each year, of which women account for 40%.

Deputy Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Nguyen Trong Dam said renewing management on vocational education is one of the two breakthrough measures proposed by the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, which will focus on issuing legal documents guiding the implementation of the Law on Vocational Education, technical standards on the operation and management of vocational education system and improving the capacity of State management agencies in the field. In addition, the ministry will improve the efficiency of vocation training in tandem with job creation by rallying public resources, including businesses, to offer training to workers, especially adult women in rural areas. At the same time, it will also diversify job transaction activities by regularly holding mobile job fairs in rural areas, thus increasing women’s access to job opportunities. Trinh Thanh Hang from the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour (VGCL) said protecting the legitimate rights and interests of women is the responsibility of the confederation and the Union.

The VGCL has adopted a Resolution on the mobilisation of female workers and an action programme on gender equality with specific goals, she said, adding that the VGCL and the Union are active in reviewing and offering recommendations on amendments and supplements to legal documents regarding female officials, cadres and workers. In the near future, both organisations will continue to well perform its role as advisors in terms of law building and enforcement involving female workers, gender equality, women’s advancement, population, reproductive health, family and children.

The 12th Congress of Vietnamese Women elected 161 members to Executive Committee of the 12th Vietnam Women’s Union for the next 5 years term. The congress will close on March 9.