The Ministry of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA) in coordination with the UN held a seminar in Hanoi on Nov. 15 to seek suggestions and proposals that serve the process of designing policies on domestic helpers.
MoLISA Deputy Minister Pham Minh Huan said that the current Labour Code lacks specific regulations on the management and use of house maids. The government has assigned the MoLISA to build a policy on the issue.
He added that the seminar is expected to help in defining and classifying the work.
Director of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) office in Hanoi Rie Vejs Kjeldgaard said that it is necessary to introduce policies on domestic helpers to protect them from being exploited and abused in their workplaces and ensuring their benefits.
Tran Thi Hong from the Family and Gender Institute, said that the government need to promulgate a decree on domestic helpers with regulations on their ages, working hours, wage levels, labour safety, social and medical insurance and responsibility of employers.
Hoa Huu Van from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said that his ministry should coordinate with relevant ministries and agencies to hold training courses for labourers to equip them with skills to adapt to the new working environment.
The MoLISA plans to submit to the government a decree, guiding some articles on domestic helpers of the Labour Code in December./.
