Hanoi (VNA) – A conference took place in Hanoion September 11 to collect social opinions on the revised Labour Code draftfrom the angle of gender equality.
Based on the fact that female employees are having lowerincomes compared to their male peers of the same profession, educational level,and geographical location, participants recommended the draft include aregulation on setting up a legal framework for gender equality to handle thegap.
Dang Nhu Loi, former deputy head of the National AssemblyCommittee for Social Affairs, said when difficulties arise, employers from theprivate sector, particularly foreign-invested firms, tend to end labourcontracts or fire workers rather than working on reusing the workers for otheroccupations and improving working environment.
It causes harmful impact on employees and a burden for boththe Government and society, he added, noting that the draft, however, does not regulatesuch issue.
Some delegates pointed to the current regulation thatforbids employers from using seven-month pregnant workers (or six-month ones inmountainous, remote, or island areas) for night shifts, extra working hours, orbusiness trips to faraway places.
They were against a change made to the regulation bydrafters of the revised code which states that employers cannot do such thingsmentioned above without acceptance from the workers.
Delegates said employers can take advantage of the flexiblecontent or persuade the pregnant women to accept the job that can inflictnegative consequences on their health.
Tran Thi Huong, a worker at the Ha Long Canned Food JointStock Corporation, said the draft regulation on increasing retirement ages forboth sexes ought to be specific for each sector.
The newly proposed regulation on cutting working hours from48 to 44 hours per week also faced disagreement from many enterprises who arguedthat 48 hours a week is a standard in Vietnam’s competitors in terms of laboursources like Thailand and India. They said the reduction is likely to weakerthe country’s competitiveness and pose risks of bankruptcy to businesses.-VNA
Disruptive change is leading to the re-regulation of work and employment around the world, including in Vietnam, Gregor Murray of the University of Montreal in Canada, said.
Policies towards female employees and the promotion of gender equality as prescribed in the draft amended Labour Code were highlighted at a workshop in Hanoi on August 8.
The reduction of working hours from 48 hours per week to 44 hours will create difficulties for textile and garments enterprises, according to one leading expert.
The Vietnam General Confederation of Labour (VGCL) has requested the drafters of the revised Labour Code maintain the proposal to cut working time from 48 hours per week to 44 hours per week.
Vietnam ranked among the top four countries and territories at the 2025 International Olympiad on Artificial Intelligence (IOAI), reaffirming its strong position in international academic competitions.
All 20 crew members aboard the Vietnamese oil tanker GT Unity were successfully rescued from a fire in the vessel’s engine room, thanks to the swift response of the Liberian-flagged ship Androusa and Vietnamese maritime rescue teams.
Describing Agent Orange as one of the most severe and enduring legacies of the war in Vietnam, Vietnam's former Honorary Consul to Belgium Joseph-Michel de Grand Ry warned that its impact – still affecting generations more than five decades later – could last another two to three decades.
Running from August 4 to September 2, under the hashtag #TuHaoVietNam, the campaign invites participants in two categories: “I Love My Country” video clips and “I Love My Country” check-in photos.
Decree No. 219/2025/ND-CP, which took effect on the issuance date, introduces amendments that integrate the procedure for reporting and explaining the demand for foreign workers into the process of submitting applications for work permits.
With a tight 13-month deadline, the move is under a strategic and urgent policy to bridge educational gaps, train the local workforce, and shore up territorial sovereignty in some of the country’s most remote areas.
The parade and personnel send-off ceremony will officially take place on August 10 at the area surrounding the Statue of King Ly Thai To and Dinh Tien Hoang street of Hoan Kiem ward, with the participation of nearly 3,000 officers, soldiers, and local residents.
According to national technical regulations, AIS installation is mandatory for boats carrying more than 50 passengers. However, operators of smaller vessels (under 50 seats) in Ha Long Bay have voluntarily committed to completing installation by the deadline to enhance operational safety.
The activities include a Vietnamese language teaching training course for overseas Vietnamese teachers from August 13 to 28 in Hanoi, Ninh Binh, and Thai Nguyen.
Specifically, the ships will carry out patrols from 7am to 6pm daily along the main tourist routes in Ha Long Bay, with one ship permanently stationed at Ti Top island. From 6pm to 7am the following day, the mobile vessels return to Tuan Chau island to maintain a 24/7 on-call duty shift, ensuring constant readiness.
The Ministry of Construction (MoC) plans to open to traffic 208km of expressways of six key projects by August 19, bringing the country’s total expressway network to 2,476km.
As of July 1, a two-tier local government model started in 34 provinces and cities, streamlining administration but creating a surplus of public properties. If not promptly addressed, these assets could become a financial burden.
Whether they grow up to become journalists, diplomats, or professionals in other fields, these children can one day become bridges of friendship and cooperation, telling new and inspiring stories of Vietnam – China relations, said Ambassador Pham Thanh Binh.
A 21-year-old Indian tourist was successfully resuscitated and treated by doctors at Hoan My Da Nang Hospital after a near-drowning incident left him in critical condition. After three days of intensive care, the man was discharged from the hospital and has since returned to India.
In an document issued on August 5, the PM emphasised the need to stablise living conditions for people hit by floods, landslides, and flash floods in late July and early August in northern and north-central provinces, especially Dien Bien, Son La, and Nghe An which suffered some of the worst damage.
Although millions of Vietnamese were affected by AO, only over 626,000 individuals, including war veterans and their children suffering from dioxin-related conditions, are currently receiving state benefits.
The team’s haul, including one Champion title, 10 golds, seven silvers, and four bronzes, surpassed expectations. Vietnam, competing since 2019, has secured over 200 AIMO medals, cementing its regional standing.
The guiding principle for revising the national energy master plan is that energy development must align with the country’s socio-economic development strategy. The energy system should be optimised as a whole, targeting sustainable and diverse development to ensure stable and adequate energy supply to meet national goals.
The Vietnam Disability Fashion Show 2025 aimed to honour the diverse beauty of individuals, promote humanistic values, and foster equality and social inclusion.
Illustrative image (Photo: VNA) 
