The retirement age of men and women was the concern of many NA deputies at the discussion of the amended Labor Code on November 22.
Deputy Bui Thi An said that in the last 50 years, retirement age for women has been five years less than men’s. In 2000, retirement age for women with high-ranking academic titles and positions was increased by five years, but the subjects must apply petitions, asking for work continuity.
She said that this regulation is only appropriate for the wartime, when women’s health was poor. It must be amended now to fit the current situation.
“Women’s average lifespan is three years more than men’s (women 74, men 71). According to doctors, men’s transformation syndrome after 50 is higher than women’s so their disease-contracting rate is very high. Therefore, the Labor Code must show the equality between men and women in retirement age, except for workers who work in toxic and hard environment,” An said.
The deputy said that because of this regulation, the development model of Vietnamese women is in pyramid: the number of women is higher than men at kindergartens and primary schools; women account for 38-40 percent of university students; female doctor degree holders account for around 20 percent; female professors and associate professors make up 4-12 percent; female NA deputies are 24 percent; and there is only one woman among the 14 members of the Politburo.
“It is very difficult and costly to train a female scientist and technician. Our country now needs talents and lacks of brainpower. It is a great waste if these women have to retire early,” she added.
Before asking the NA to increase women’s retirement age to 60 as men’s, this deputy, who is a doctor degree holder, said that only several developing countries set women’s retirement age lower than men’s.
“Gender equality is the parameter of civilization and culture of a country so I would like to express my aspiration on behalf of thousands of women who are afraid of speaking out their opinion. Women at the age of 50-52 are very young, very healthy and very talented,” she said.
Deputy Dang Ngoc Tung agreed with An but he said that the law must be applied on millions of female workers, not only a small group of well-trained women.
“I’ve met with millions of female workers at factories; particularly garment, footwear, seafood and rubber latex processing factories and they told me that they could not work at the age of 55 because rubber workers have to work from 5am in rubber forests, while their hands tremble at the age of 40. They want to retire at that age,” Tung, who is Chair of the Vietnam Confederation of Labor, said.
Deputy Nguyen Ngoc Phuong said that the role and position of women have changed so it is a disadvantage for them if they have to retire at the age of 55.
Deputy Bui Manh Hung said it is necessary to define retirement is the right or duty because if it is a duty, it must be equal for men and woman. If it is right, it must be given priority to women.
“I agree that the retirement age for men is 60 and 55 for women but in terms of duty, it must be equal for all workers. It means that the duty of both men and women is working until 60 years old. Highly-expertise laborers may have specific regulations,” Hung said.
Hung said that there is no ground to set retirement age of women lower than men’s while women’s lifespan is longer than men’s.
PV
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