Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - The revised Labour Code is expected to besubmitted to the National Assembly for approval this month. However, majorchanges to the law are still under discussion in an attempt to ensuregender equality and enhance the development of female workers.

An increase to the retirement age, the promotion of support related tochildcare and fair payment for female workers are among the controversialissues.

Nguyen Thi Thu, a female worker at Garment 10 Company in Hanoi’s Gia Lam district,said she had been enjoying support policies for female workers,especially during maternity and motherhood, at her workplace.

Thu and other female workers are allowed to take days off when theirchildren are sick, among the other benefits. However, the increase in theretirement age, which has been raised from 55 to 60 for female workers in thedraft revised Labour Code, is not good for her.

Thu said garment workers had to stand up at work for nearly eight hoursper day, so she didn't think she'd be healthy enough to work until she reached60. The policy should be flexible for different careers, she said.

Bui Duc Thinh, Chairman of Song Hong Garment Joint Stock Company in the northernprovince of Nam Dinh, told Nong thon ngay nay (CountrysideToday) newspaper that the increased retirement age could help solve theageing population problem and the shortage of jobs in the future. However, itwould create difficulties for labourers and enterprises in the garmentindustry.

The life expectancy of labourers who produce garments is very low. Mostcan only work until they are 45 as their health is not good enough tocontinue the job.

The increase in the retirement age would put female labourers in a difficultsituation as enterprises did not want to hire old and weak employees, hesaid.

Thinh said there were more than 10,000 labourers working at his company. Ofthat, nearly 80 percent were women.

Policies on gender equality would have a great impact on the production andbusiness of the company, he said.

The regulation related to childcare has also caused concerns.

Nguyen Xuan Duong, Chairman of Hung Yen province’s Textile and Garment Association,said allowing female workers a 30 minute break when they were on theirperiods would affect the workflow and reduce productivity, especiallyfor those who worked on a production line.

Professor Giang Thanh Long of the National Economics University saidparental leave provisions should be applied for both female and male workers.Both female and male workers should be eligible for time off related tochildcare as a way of promoting shared family responsibilities.

Fair payment is another issue that needs to be looked at, Long said.  Thedraft law should ensure a fair assessment of work efficiency andsalaries for male and female workers in the same jobs.

Thu, the garment worker, agreed, saying she hoped female workers would be paidthe same as men in the same jobs.

Bui Si Loi, Vice Chairman of the National Assembly’s Committee for SocialAffairs, said there were always different opinions on the issues, but itwas necessary to prioritise the interests of female workers.

Although some contents of the draft could affect female workers' productivity,they should be included to ensure the best interests of female workers.

The break time during menstruation was an example, he said. Employers andemployees could negotiate if the provision affected the job. In case employeescould not have a break as stipulated, employers must compensate for employees.

The increase in the retirement age, according to Loi, was necessary and shouldbe implemented step by step.

Currently, 36 percent of the member countries of the International LabourOrganisation have applied a retirement age of 62 for male workers and60 for female workers.

Nguyen Van Binh, deputy head of the Ministry of Labour, Invalid and SocialAffairs’ Legal Department, who is also a member of the drafting committee, saidthe committee had collected a wide range of opinions and adjusted thedraft accordingly to ensure the benefits of workers, enterprises and thecountry.

The committee will finalise the revised law to submit to the8th session of the 14th National Assembly, which begins on October21./.