Hanoi (VNA) – Ensuring the rights offemale labourers in the workplace is a priority of the Vietnamese Government,said Deputy Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Nguyen Thi Ha.

Ha made the remarks at the plenary sessionof the 107th the International Labour Conference in Geneva,Switzerland, on June 5.

The official cited the issuance of laws andpolicies in Vietnam to enable women to improve their management and leadershipcapacity, and easily access capital.

One of the targets of Vietnam’s nationalstrategy on gender equality for 2011-2020 is to reduce gender gaps in thefields of economy, labour and employment, and enhance the access of poor womenin rural areas and women of ethnic minority groups to economic resources andthe labour market, she stressed.

She said programmes and projects on vocationaltraining, employment, workplace safety, sustainable poverty reduction andsupport for female entrepreneurs have helped women approach job opportunities,join the labour market, escape from poverty and improve their economic rights.

Pointing out challenges caused by the fourthindustrial revolution to women who may be weeded out from the official economyor have fewer job options, Ha stressed the need to raise public awareness ofthe role and potential of female labourers.

She suggested integrating gender equalityinto policies on human resources at the national level.

In the region, Vietnam has ran initiatives topromote women’s position such as the ASEAN Women Entrepreneurs’ Network, shesaid, adding that Vietnam is working with other member economies of theAsia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum to materialise the APEC GenderInclusion Guidelines, while ensuring gender equality within the UN agenda onsustainable development by 2030.

Ha thanked the International LabourOrganisation (ILO) for its support for Vietnam’s approval of resolutions on thereform of social insurance and salary policies.

Vietnam has also cooperated with theorganisation to prepare for the amendment of the Labour Code, as well as in thespheres of gender equality, labour relations, vocational training and workplacesafety, contributing to enhancing capacity for the Vietnamese Government and itssocial partners.

Vietnam wishes to receive more support fromthe ILO and its members in accelerating the reform of labour-related laws,especially policies on social insurance and labour relations, and implementingthe Vietnam-ILO national cooperation programme on sustainable employment in2017-2021, she said.

The official affirmed Vietnam’s commitmentto fulfilling its membership obligations and promoting effective collaborationwith the ILO and partners in Vietnam.

The same day, Vice President of the VietnamGeneral Confederation of Labour (VGCL) Tran Van Ly also delivered a speech atthe plenary session, introducing the Vietnamese Government’s guidelines andpolicies towards women.

He highlighted the VGCL’s attention topromoting gender equality, protecting rights of female workers and increasingthe rate of female leaders in trade unions.

The 107th International LabourConference, which takes place from May 28 to June 8, brings together 5,000delegates representing Governments, employees and employers from 187 ILO membercountries.

The delegates looked into a range of issuesregarding violence at workplace, rights of labourers, female workers, socialdialogues and the implementation of standards and cooperation mechanisms fordevelopment.-VNA