A seminar where participants could make proposals relating to theprotection of Vietnamese female guest workers’ legitimate rights washeld in Hanoi on December 17.

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

According to delegates,greater attention should be paid to women sent abroad to work as theyare more vulnerable and at higher risk of abuse, especially thoseworking 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 implementlegal regulations to protect the legitimate rights of guest workers,especially female employees. Many businesses have sent female managersabroad 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 providessufficient regulations to protect guest worker rights. However, genderequality has yet to be ensured, said the participants.

Meanwhile, labour managers abroad still lack experience.

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