Reducing Women's Housework Time, A Remarkable Goal in National Strategy on Gender Equality

A report released by the International Labor Organization (ILO) in March 2021 showed that women spending an average of 20.2 hours a week doing housework such as: cleaning the house, washing clothes, cooking, going to the market, taking care of the family and children. Meanwhile, men only spend 10.7 hours on these jobs. Even nearly 1/5 of men do not spend any time on housework.

“Inequality against women in terms of job quality and career development also stem from the dual responsibility they have to shoulder. Women spend more than twice as much time doing housework as men,” said Valentina Barcucci, ILO Viet Nam's labor economist.

The COVID-19 pandemic has not only increased existing inequalities in the Vietnamese labor market, but also created new inequalities. Women's total weekly hours worked in the second quarter of 2020 was only 88.8% of their total hours worked in the fourth quarter of 2019, while this figure for men was 91.2%.

In the last three months of 2020, women worked 0.8% more hours than in the same period in 2019, while men worked just 0.6% more. “Women working longer hours than usual in the second half of 2020 are likely to make up for lost earnings in the second quarter. These extra hours put a double burden on them,” said Ms. Barcucci. Burden is heavier, because they still have to spend too much time doing housework compared to men.”

Female workers with a double burden: Working while carrying the family responsibilities. (Illustration)

Accordingly, the overall goal of the National Strategy on Gender Equality for the 2021-2030 period is to continue to narrow the gender gap, and to create conditions and opportunities for women and men to participate and benefit equally in education and the other fields of social life, contributing to the sustainable development of the country.

The strategy sets out 6 goals and 20 specific targets to further narrow the gender gap in the following areas: Politics; economy, labor; in family life and prevention; response to gender-based violence; medical; educations; information and communication.

In addition to a number of indicators that need to continue to maintain the results of the previous period, the Strategy 2021-2030 also includes new targets such as: Reducing the proportion of female employees working in the agricultural sector; increase public social assistance establishments that carry out activities to assist, prevent and respond to gender-based violence; reduce the adolescent birth rate; health facilities providing pilot health care services for gay, bisexual and transgender people; content on gender and gender equality is included in the curriculum in the national education system...

Previously, implementing the National Strategy on Gender Equality for the period 2011-2020, Vietnam has achieved many encouraging results, contributing to narrowing the gender gap in all fields, making a positive contribution to the development process. socio-economic development of the country. In particular, the results of the election of deputies to the 15th National Assembly and People's Councils at all levels for the 2021-2026 term with the rate of 30.26% female National Assembly deputies and nearly 30% female members of the People's Council. at all levels is a clear demonstration of efforts in realizing gender equality in Vietnam.

These achievements will be a solid foundation for all levels and sectors to continue to maintain and promote further in the implementation of the national gender equality goals in the coming period.

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