Speaking at the opening of the Conference, Deputy Minister Nguyen Thi Ha emphasized that equality and non-discrimination is a consistent policy of our Party and State. Basically, the 2012 Labor Code has ensured the principle of gender equality. Specifically, most provisions of the Labor Code apply equally to both men and women. In addition, stemming from specific social and natural characteristics, the 2012 Labor Code has dedicated a chapter that sets out regulations for female workers, which ensure the rights and interests of women when entering the labor market.

According to the Gender Impact Assessment and Social Impact Assessment of the revised Labor Code Project, some contents are not feasible due to the lack of appropriate specific regulations such as prevention of sexual harassment at the workplace, preferential policies for businesses employing many female workers, policies on preventive vocational training for female workers, etc.

The amendment of the Labor Code is an opportunity for policy makers including experts, employees' representatives and employers to research, recognize and agree on mechanisms and policies for female workers and promoting gender equality in line with national practice and catching up with global trends. In addition, the approach needs to be changed, from the "protection of female workers" approach to the "promoting gender equality and ensuring rights" for both sexes, male and female workers.

The change of awareness and approach from protecting female workers to promoting gender equality was also recommended by the representative of UN Women in Viet Nam at the Workshop. It emphasizes four main issues: narrowing and moving towards eliminating the retirement age gap between male and female workers; Ensuring the promotion of gender equality, without discrimination on the basis of gender in terms of opportunities, conditions, capacity to exercise rights and enjoy benefits in labor, especially performing maternity and child care functions in line with gender characteristics; Improving the mechanism of appropriate and effective sharing of responsibilities between the State and employers in organizing kindergartens and assisting workers in sending children to kindergartens and preschools; Completing the legal framework to prevent sexual harassment at the workplace, contributing to ensuring a safe and healthy working environment.