PM Urges Women Union to Reduce Poverty

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has urged the Vietnam Women’s Union (VWU) to focus on reducing poverty, improving the quality of human resources, promoting regulations on gender equality, and the control and prevention of domestic violence and women trafficking. PM Dung made the call at a working session with the Vietnam Women's Union (VWU) in Hanoi on Feb. 22. He noted that the VWU should pay attention to training as a means to improve labour quality, create jobs and increase income for female workers, particularly those in rural, mountainous and remote areas. VWU Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Thanh Hoa said the union has actively mobilized women to take part in movements of production and trade development. Women are encouraged to join the country's efforts to curb inflation, stabilize the macro-economy and ensure social security. Trade unions at all levels have saved more than VND142 billion ($6,800) and over 1,000 tons of rice to help disadvantaged households in the past. The union has supervised the implementation of social security and poverty reduction policies, as well as information dissemination and education about the adoption of regulations relating to gender equality and support for women to develop the economy, Hoa said. (vietnamplus.vn Feb 23)