Vietnam - Gender disparities remains in jobs, health, education

Vietnam has made significant progress in addressing gender disparities in education, employment and health, but inequities remain both socially and economically, following a report issued by the World Bank on September 23.

Women have made major gains in educational enrolment but are still highly segregated into particular fields, according to the Vietnam Country Gender Assessment 2011.

The gender gap in primary and secondary schools has been eliminated and women have surpassed men in obtaining junior college and university degree.

At the tertiary level, men are more likely to specialize in engineering, manufacturing, constructions and services while women focus on social sciences, education, humanities and arts.

While gender parity has been achieved at under graduated levels, only 30.5 percent of Masters’ degrees and 17.1 percent of PhDs were awarded to women in 2007.

Women’s wages are around 75 percent of men’s, according to the 2009 Labour Force Survey, not taking to account differences in education or job experience.

The proportion of skilled female workers is only half that of male and that disparity increased slightly between 2002 and 2006.

69 percent of women were vulnerably employed in 2009 compared to only 54.4 percent of men.

The rate of women experiencing physical violence from their husband was 31.5 percent in 2010, below the average rate found in some other countries using a similar methodology.

Pham Ngoc Tien, head of the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs’ Gender Equality Department said that the individual report conducted by the World Bank in cooperation with several development partners was a useful material for State agencies and organizations to implement laws, policies and projects related to these issues.

VNA/VOVNews

Business & Investment Opportunities
YourVietnamExpert is a division of Saigon Business Corporation Pte Ltd, Incorporated in Singapore since 1994. As Your Business Companion, we propose a range of services in Consulting, Investment and Management, focusing three main economic sectors: International PR; Healthcare & Wellness;and Tourism & Hospitality. We also propose Higher Education, as a bridge between educational structures and industries, by supporting international programs. Sign up with twitter to get news updates with @SaigonBusinessC. Thanks.