17 December 2018 | Press Release

Vietnam gets three global gender equality seals

Ho Chi Minh City—Three Vietnamese companies on Wednesday became the first in the country to receive EDGE Certification, the leading global assessment methodology and business certification standard for gender equality. EDGE Certifications were awarded to Southern Airports Services Joint Stock Company (SASCO), EVN Ho Chi Minh City and Maritime Bank, during the Vietnam Corporate Forum organised by Vietnam Economic Times.

These firms are founding members of the Vietnam Business Coalition for Women’s Empowerment (VBCWE), along with Deloitte Vietnam, General Garment Company 10, Traphaco Joint Stock Company and Unilever Vietnam.

VBCWE is supported by Investing in Women, an initiative of the Australian Government, to promote workplace gender equality in the business community.

“Gender equality and women’s empowerment are priorities of Australia’s foreign policy, which are aligned with the Government of Vietnam’s own strong commitments outlined in its National Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Strategy,” His Excellency Mr Craig Chittick, Australian Ambassador to Vietnam, said during his welcome remarks.

“Companies that commit to improving gender equality are better employers for all their staff and create more successful businesses,” he added, as he congratulated the companies.

VBCWE founding members Southern Airports Services Joint Stock Company (SASCO), EVN Ho Chi Minh City and Maritime Bank became the first in the country to receive EDGE Certification.

 

EDGE Certification, which stands for Economic Dividends for Gender Equality Certification, is designed to help businesses create and benefit from an optimal workplace for women and men based on an assessment of workforce and pay data; policies and practices; and a staff survey on gender equality.

SASCO received EDGE Move, the second-level certification, which recognises companies that have reached critical milestones in their workplace gender equality journey. EVN and Maritime Bank both achieved EDGE Assess, the first level, awarded to companies that make a public commitment to gender equality.

“The workplace is where people spend most of their daily life and is considered the second home of each person. Therefore, businesses should consider strategically investing in an environment that enables every employee to develop equally regardless of gender,” VBCWE Chair Madam Ha Thi Thu Thanh said as she moderated a panel discussion at the event.

“Eliminating internal barriers which have been existed for a long time is not easy, but it has the potential of giving business a competitive advantage in an age of increasingly intense competition,” Madam Thanh added.

VBCWE will support EDGE-Certified members implement and monitor progress on action plans to further advance GE in the EDGE certified companies,  while encouraging additional companies to join the Business Coalition and work toward gender equality, with or without EDGE Certification. Companies who want to assess their own level of workplace gender equality and seek EDGE Certification may contact VBCWE at info@vbcwe.com.

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