Starting Point
Ms. Le Thi Nhu Thao is the Head of the Women's Union of ETOP Vietnam Company Limited, a 100% foreign-owned enterprise. She is one of the 95 outstanding Women's Union Heads for the third time in 2024, honoured by the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour on the occasion of the 95th anniversary of the founding of the Vietnam Trade Union.
With over 7 years of experience working at the company, which employs more than 3,048 staff, of whom 2,944 are female, Ms. Thao consistently represents, cares for, and safeguards the legitimate rights and interests of female workers.
Peace Journey
Every year, on behalf of the Women's Trade Union, she advises the Executive Committee to inspect and oversee the implementation of policies for female workers at the enterprise, ensuring the enterprise applies policies for female workers in a transparent, correct, comprehensive, and timely manner. Activities among female officers and employees of the company are prioritised, with mutual support, love, and charity movements enthusiastically supported by union members in the company.
The Women's Trade Union has performed its duties effectively, safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of female workers. It has promoted and educated about the law, regularly organising various training courses, such as specialised classes on reproductive health care for female workers; sessions on HIV/AIDS; discussions on gender equality; programmes on raising healthy children; teaching good parenting; preventing domestic violence; menstrual hygiene; contraceptive measures; pre- and post-natal health care; sexually transmitted diseases; and breast cancer awareness. These initiatives have attracted thousands of workers to volunteer their participation. The movement has also yielded practical results, leading to an improvement in the quality of life for female workers.
The Women's Trade Union has consulted with the General Trade Union to propose many policies that benefit female workers and have been approved by the enterprise, such as: pregnant female workers are allowed to eat 10 minutes earlier; short breaks in the morning from 10:00 to 10:15 and in the afternoon from 14:30 to 14:45; and allowances for raising children under 7 years old.
Furthermore, the Women's Trade Union organises sudden support campaigns aimed at directly assisting female workers facing serious illnesses and challenging circumstances. It advises the Union Executive Committee to formalise the movement of female workers competing to "be good at public work, take care of housework" through initiatives that encourage female workers to strive for excellence, be creative contributors, raise healthy children, and teach well-behaved children. Every year, female union members with notable achievements in emulation, production, and labour are recognised and rewarded.
The Women's Trade Union also advises the Executive Committee, co-ordinates with business owners to negotiate, agree, and sign collective labour agreements with policies and regimes for female workers to ensure rights, equality, and legitimate entitlements according to the provisions of the Labour Code for female workers, such as building lactation and milk storage rooms to enable female workers to continue breastfeeding after giving birth.
Additionally, Ms. Thảo, together with her Women’s Trade Union, encourages the company’s leadership to implement non-discriminatory policies, such as establishing a grassroots labour conciliation council. Fully and effectively enforcing regulations and policies for workers, especially female workers, in the form of preventing strikes, work stoppages, or occupational accidents at the enterprise, and participating in inspecting and supervising the implementation of policies for women twice a year.
Success Stories
Regarding her contribution, Ms. Thao said that she always strives to fulfil her role and responsibilities in caring for, representing, and safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of female workers at the Trade Union. She will ensure the company consistently complies with and implements the laws and policies of the state.