Workshop discusses social welfare for female workers
Social welfare and maternity protection for female workers in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are the focus of a workshop in Hanoi on May 6.
The function, co-organised by the Vietnamese Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs and the Friedrich Ebert Institute of Singapore, is the combination of two initiatives raised in Work Plans of the ASEAN Senior Labour Officials Meeting (SLOM) and the ASEAN Committee on Women (ACW) during the period of 2011-2015.
Participants dwelled upon maternity protection covering maternity leave, salary, bonuses and reproductive health services, as well as the successful results of cooperation among ASEAN member countries.
There are less female workers than male workers in these countries, they said, noting that women receive lower wages than their male peers while traditionally having to take care of their families.
Many participants proposed that ASEAN member countries promote the exchange of experiences in labour management while promoting equality including gender equality in the workplace.
They agreed to submit all proposals to officials and ministers’ meetings of the SLOM and the ACW for consideration.
According to the 2008 ASEAN Chapter, ASEAN member countries are committed to providing social welfare for all citizens.
The master plan of the ASEAN Cultural and Social Community also considers social security and social welfare as top priorities.
Meanwhile, the working programme of ASEAN Labour Ministers during the 2010-2015 period maps out strategies to expand social welfare for unofficial sectors and enhance social protection in the workplace.