A seminar where participants could make proposals relating to the protection of Vietnamese female guest workers’ legitimate rights was held in Hanoi on December 17.

At the event, jointly held by the Ministry of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA) and UN Entity for Gender Equality, the Empowerment of Women (UN Women), participants shared information on the situation of Vietnamese female workers sent abroad to work, as well as current policies assisting them.

According to delegates, greater attention should be paid to women sent abroad to work as they are more vulnerable and at higher risk of abuse, especially those working as house workers, nurses and orderlies.

Added to this, there should be policies to facilitate and improve women’s awareness in budgeting and saving.

Vietnam ’s State and firms have made efforts to build and implement legal regulations to protect the legitimate rights of guest workers, especially female employees. Many businesses have sent female managers abroad to deal with issues relating to female guest workers.

Vietnam has issued a law on Vietnamese guest workers under contract. The current legal documents relating to this group of people provides sufficient regulations to protect guest worker rights. However, gender equality has yet to be ensured, said the participants.

Meanwhile, labour managers abroad still lack experience.

To protect the legitimate rights of female workers, participants agreed more specific policies are needed, adding that the revision of the Law on Vietnamese Guest Workers should take gender into consideration.
The Overseas Workers Management Department of MoLISA and the UN Women have been conducting a joint project to empower female guest workers since December 2009.-VNA