The Investing in Women project increases public awareness and support for gender equitable provisions in the revised Labor Code.
Background
The Labor Code is Vietnam’s overarching legal framework for labor rights and social protection, including those for women workers. Last updated in 2012, the Code is being revised in 2016-2019 by a drafting team headed by the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs. The draft was scheduled to be presented to the National Assembly for discussion and approval during May and October 2019 sessions.
Whether through unequal pay, sexual harassment at the workplace, outdated stereotypes, or forced early retirement, gender inequality has significant impacts on the productivity and well-being of women workers and consequently on the productivity of employers and the economy overall.
With women making up nearly half of the total workforce in Vietnam, the Labor Code plays a central role in achieving greater gender equality. Yet, the development of the 2012 Code was based on the approach of protecting women instead of promoting gender equality, causing unnecessary barriers and forms of discrimination for women at work.
Objective of Investing in Women
Through Promoting Gender Equality in the revised Labor Code project, CARE works to increase public awareness and support for gender equitable provisions in the Labour Code, with a focus on:
- equal employment opportunities & sharing of family responsibilities
- workplaces free of sexual harassment
- equal retirement age
- equal pay
How does Investing in Women work?
- The project focuses on bringing the voice of urban workers who are directly affected by the revision of the Labor Code. This is achieved by a photovoice activity where garment workers take photos that tell their daily struggle, a film competition where young filmmakers present the various sides of gender inequality in the workplace through both fiction and nonfiction films and policy dialogues where factory workers tell policymakers what their problems are, including gender inequality issues.
- In communication with business leaders, the project promotes the constructive and positive message that women’s economic empowerment is vital for fulfilling women’s rights and helps businesses to remain competitive in global supply chains and ultimately for inclusive economic growth.
- By collaborating with like-minded organizations, the project uses direct and indirect strategies to influence National Assembly members to adopt gender-equitable changes
Participants of Investing in Women
Garment workers, National Assembly delegates, Trade unions at different levels
Location
Vietnam
Time
4/2018 – 5/2019
Donor
