Women should be encouraged to engage in economic development activities
and be empowered in production and business, heard a forum in Hanoi
on October 2.
In opening the forum, Chairman of the
Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) Vu Tien Loc said
promoting women’s involvement in economic activities plays a crucial
role in realising gender equality, promoting social progress and helping
implement the Party and State’s policies to develop the female business
community in Vietnam.
International Labour
Organisation (ILO) Country Director Gyorgy Sziraczki stressed that it is
impossible to eradicate poverty, enhance prosperity and sustainable
development unless women are empowered and fully involved in economic
activities.
UN Women Chief Representative in Vietnam Shoko
Ishikawa said it is vital to remove barriers to women’s involvement in
labour market by strengthening reform and ensuring the best working
conditions and human rights for both women and men. She added that the
salary gap between men and women in Vietnam widened by 2 percent in the
2008-2011 period compared to the level in the previous decade, while the
global gap is closing in.
At the forum, participants focused
discussions on issues related to creating favourable conditions for
businesswomen’s development and measures to further boost the
effectiveness of enterprises run by female leaders.
Delegates also shared the experience of Japanese businesses in empowering women at the workplace.-VNA