Social policies and the lives of female workers

"The Impact of Social Policies on the Lives of Female Workers in Non-State Enterprises in Hanoi" is the topic of the doctoral dissertation of PhD candidate Hoang Thi Nga, defended at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities on July 21, 2010.The thesis highlighted several limitations in the implementation of current social policies in Vietnam regarding the lives of female workers, such as: inadequate working conditions leading to a decline in female workers' health; overtime work limiting their ability to pursue further education and professional development, and making it difficult for them to find partners or raise children; and unstable and inadequate wages and salaries reducing their opportunities to participate in cultural and spiritual activities. The thesis proposed several solutions to improve and supplement social policies aimed at enhancing the lives of female workers in non-state enterprises, including: improving policies and mechanisms regarding employment, social insurance, wages, working hours, etc.; and improving and supplementing relevant government documents concerning wage rates, minimum wage levels, working hours, and rest periods during pregnancy and childbirth for female workers. The role of social organizations in protecting workers' rights needs to be further enhanced, and in particular, workers need to proactively raise their awareness to protect their own legitimate rights. Professor Pham Tat Dong (reviewer 1) highly appreciated the doctoral candidate's dissertation, especially the research data presented. The professor noted that the data presented was not significantly different from that of a research project he participated in on the lives of workers, a nationwide survey conducted 10 years ago. Therefore, according to the professor, the topic contributed to demonstrating that the current living conditions of workers are still very difficult and have not improved much in the past decade, especially for female workers. In addition, Professor Pham Tat Dong also frankly discussed some of the theories applied by the doctoral candidate in their dissertation. He argued: “The author mainly uses theories of capitalism and sociology from Western researchers, inadvertently forgetting the ‘prestigious figures’ in the country. Meanwhile, these ‘prestigious figures’ have conducted research very closely related to the actual situation in the country and relevant to the topic.” Agreeing with the assessments of Professor Pham Tat Dong, Associate Professor Nguyen Huu Minh (reviewer 2) also offered insightful comments on the topic, stating that: The thesis has contributed to enriching sociological theories and is one of the first studies on the impact of social policies on the lives of female workers. Associate Professor Le Tieu La stated: “The dissertation vividly and comprehensively describes the impact of social policies on the material and spiritual lives of female workers in non-state industrial zones.” The general consensus among the members of the state-level doctoral dissertation examination committee was: The dissertation is a scientific work with profound theoretical and practical significance, addressing a topical issue. All 7 members of the committee recognized the dissertation as a state-level doctoral dissertation, with 5 out of 7 members voting to rate it as excellent. Thus, another outstanding state-level doctoral dissertation in sociology has been successfully defended at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities. The dissertation not only provides a scientific basis for policymakers in formulating appropriate and effective policies but also serves as a valuable reference for future teaching and research in the field of sociology.