Vietnam Airlines trains employees on how to use the equality promotion toolkit

Attending the Seminar were experts from UN Women, Vietnam Women Entrepreneurs Council VCCI, leaders of Vietnam Airlines, along with many people working in the field of women's advancement, and employees of Vietnam Airlines.

At the Seminar, delegates listened to expert reports and discussed topics such as: Trends and Opportunities for businesses in implementing Women's Economic Empowerment; Instructions on using the Gender Gap Analysis tool in the workplace to promote equality for employees in businesses and benefits for businesses; Gender-responsive procurement and Gender-responsive procurement assessment tools...

Speaking at the seminar, Ms. Caroline Nyamayemombe - Chief Representative of UN Women said: The principle of women's empowerment was introduced in Vietnam in 2012. Since then, the Vietnam Women Entrepreneurs Council has cooperated with UN Women to promote businesses to implement the UN's principle of women's empowerment. Vietnam Airlines is one of the leading units in Vietnam in this field. On October 15, 2024, at the headquarters of Vietnam Airlines Corporation, Vietnam Airlines signed a cooperation agreement for the period of 2024-2026 with UN Women - the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women with specific goals and programs to promote gender equality in businesses and the community.

She said that today's seminar and training is like an international seminar, these discussions have been held in many places around the world. In addition, there is a report sharing the experiences of large companies in the world in the process of empowering women.

Ms. Caroline Nyamayemombe - UN Women Representative - spoke at the Seminar.

“I also hope that the discussions and exchanges will not only have immediate results, but also have real effects, so that you can actually apply them in your activities, and join hands to promote gender equality in the corporation, supply chain, and in our economic and social activities.

At the seminar, Ms. Ngo Kim Lan - Manager of the UN Women Empowerment Program introduced the principles of women's empowerment. According to Ms. Kim Lan, there are 7 contents in the principles of women's empowerment, but each company is interested in different issues. However, there are 3 contents that companies are most interested in: building a gender-equal workplace, raising awareness of gender equality and increasing women in management and leadership positions.

Ms. Lan also informed about trends, opportunities, actions related to the principle of women's empowerment for the company.

Also in the Seminar, as Vice President in charge of the Vietnam Women Entrepreneurs Council - VCCI - an organization that has implemented many activities to promote women's empowerment in private enterprises - Ms. Mai Thi Dieu Huyen guided the use of the Gender Gap Analysis tool in the workplace to promote equality for employees in enterprises and benefits for enterprises; Gender-responsive procurement and the Gender-responsive procurement assessment tool...

One content that delegates attending the discussion were very interested in were the two pillars to determine a gender-responsible enterprise, which are enterprises with activities demonstrating responsibility for gender equality or enterprises owned by women.

Delegates also expressed concerns about the criteria for determining whether a business is gender responsible.

Ms. Lan - Un women - said that in theory, these two pillars have been recognized internationally. However, in Vietnam, there is no official definition. Switzerland currently has a certificate to measure gender-responsive businesses. However, the cost of issuing this certificate is very expensive, and it is only valid for 2 years. In Vietnam, the issue of the second pillar - women-owned businesses - will be easier to identify.

Speaker Mai Thi Dieu Huyen discussed at the seminar.

Expressing her point of view, Ms. Huyen emphasized that the tools to empower women and gender-responsible purchasing are completely voluntary commitments. However, this voluntary commitment will be very valuable in enhancing the value of the enterprise. First of all, in terms of internal value, the application of these tools will help employees feel cared for, demonstrating the solidarity of the company. Externally, large companies will use this as a criterion for choosing partners, a plus point for businesses to participate in the global value chain.

Earlier, in his opening speech, a representative of Vietnam Airlines said: "Trends and opportunities for businesses in enhancing women's economic empowerment." is an extremely important and practical topic in today's era, when the role of women is increasingly affirmed in all areas of social life, especially in the economy. Enhancing women's economic empowerment is not only a requirement for gender equality, but also a key factor promoting sustainable development of the community and businesses.

He hopes that the Seminar will provide useful knowledge and specific strategies to help enhance women's economic empowerment, thereby contributing to the development of both businesses and the community.

Vietnam Airlines is one of the companies that is very strong in implementing gender equality activities. Last November, surpassing many strong candidates, Vietnam Airlines Corporation was honored to receive the first prize of the Un women weps awards in 2024 in the category of "Gender equality through community participation and partnership". With the first prize of this category, Vietnam Airlines will be a candidate of the Un women weps awards in 2024 in the Asia region.

Van Tung