Since Nov 15, it has been the first time female workers were entitled to 30-minute break per day, at least 3 days per month during menstrual cycle. This has been a welcome signal to all female workers.
Very necessary!
Pursuant to Chapter II, Article 7 of Decree 85/2015 / ND-CP dated Oct 1, 2015 of the Government specifying some articles of the Labour Code regarding policies to female employees, female employees are entitled to a 30-minute break per day, at least 3 days per month. This break is paid according to labor contract, break time is negotiated by employees and employers to be in accordance with the actual conditions of the workplace and employee’s needs. This regulation expresses the sympathy for female employee’s discomforts during their menstruation. However, many female workers are still unfamiliar with this regulation.
Female workers have increasingly been taken care
Nguyen Thi Ha, worker of Shyang Hung Chen Company, said: “I have not heard about menstrual leave. It’s surprising but it’s a good thing to have a break a leave like this”. Bui Thi Nga, worker of Binh Duong Garments Company, said many female workers had been so happy as knowing about this regulation, because this was the Party and State’s concern for difficulties of female workers. Sometimes they want to take a break but cannot give a reason for this, because this is a delicate matter.
A delicate matter of female workers is clearly stipulated and become a normal physiological problem that everyone can understand and sympathize. Quan, a male worker of Thai Binh Company, said: “I strongly advocate this regulation, because this represents equality, deep sympathy for women. I think this is a practical regulation to protect female employee’s rights”.
Truong Thi Bich Hanh, Vice Chairwoman of provincial Labor Federation, said: “This is a very humanistic regulation that can share female worker’s health problems. According to the decree, companies are required to inform employees and employers about this regulation for the implementation; break time can be negotiated later.
Removing obstacles of businesses
Nguyen Thi Ngoc Ha, Director cum Trade Union’s Chairwoman of Chi Hung Company, said: “As a woman, I'm glad to know that Vietnamese women’s health is concerned by the government. I recognize the humanity in this regulation. Our company that comprises 80% female workers will have more or less confusion about applying this regulation. However, we will rearrange our schedule in order not to affect productivity. If female workers do not need 30-minute menstrual break every day, the company will find other solutions to guarantee female worker’s interests and not to break the law”.
At the meeting of the third quarter 2015 of non-State-owned enterprises, some companies informed that they had applied menstrual leave before this decree’s issuance. However, there are some difficulties while implementing this regulation, for example, this is a very delicate matter and is difficult to manage, register, or difficulties in setting up bathrooms, toilets at workplace to meet requirements of Ministry of Health and needs of female workers.
Improving health care conditions for female workers is one solution to help businesses to attract and retain employees. Productivity will increase when worker’s health is taken good care. Female workers should consider this as a normal physiological matter. Employers should also understand that this is a responsibility, sympathy for female workers, contributing to improving the life’s quality of women.
Reported by Huynh Thuy – Translated by Ngoc Huynh
