Why women's empowerment in business matters now

Many international and local enterprises have shown great interest in promoting gender equality in the workplace and empowering women.

In a report named Policies and Practices to Promote Women in Leadership Roles in the Private Sector prepared by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development in 2020, it mentions important efforts to encourage concrete and practical actions to advance global efforts to strengthen the role of women in private sector leadership and provides follow-up steps for consideration to support further progress towards this goal.

Building an inspiring and equal working environment for female staff members by uplifting and strengthening women's leadership

The International Labour Organization also produced guidance entitled Empowering Women at Work: Company Policies and Practices for Gender Equality. It said that despite the commendable efforts of companies to promote women’s economic empowerment in the workplace, renewed and transformative actions are needed, especially in the context of COVID-19 policy responses and crisis recovery.

Notably, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) has so far granted various awards to recognise exemplary company efforts for gender equality aligned with its Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEP).

Most recently, UN Women, in collaboration with the Vietnam Women Entrepreneur Council (VWEC), has announced the winner of the 2022 annual UN Women WEPs Award for Vietnam, acknowledging firm corporate commitments to promote gender equality in the workplace, marketplace, and community.

ofi Vietnam won the Leadership, Commitment, and Action category award, recognising its commitment towards progressive policies, regulations, and practices aimed at promoting gender equality in the workplace and within its supply chain partners.

ofi Vietnam receiving the prestigious UN WEP Award for building an inclusive and equal workplace

During its 25 years of operating in the nation, ofi Vietnam has been known as one of the country’s leading producers, processors, and exporters of nuts, spices, and coffee. It has invested in its people to drive performance via a three-pronged approach to create a diverse and inclusive culture through employee engagement activities and talent development programmes.

This approach has come to life through various initiatives, including building an inspiring and equal working environment for female employees through personal development programmes aimed at uplifting and strengthening women's leadership.

Meanwhile, the Globally Reaching ofi Women (GROW) and the Globally Lifting ofi Women (GLOW) programmes provide critical skills for female employees and hone their leadership skillsets through various training sessions.

“By joining the GROW network, I have been equipped with new knowledge and skills to develop myself, not only in work but also in life,” said Suong Nguyen, HR professional at ofi Vietnam.

She added that she was particularly impressed with the Personal Care seminars held last March. The young woman was able to connect with famous beauty experts and learn the proper methods to take care of her skin and appearance.

Suong was one of the hundreds of employees at ofi Vietnam joining 15 sessions of GROW activities over the past eight months, helping them become more empowered at work and in life. Such efforts are also recognised through consecutive wins at both the Kincentric Best Employers Award from 2019 to 2021 and the HR Asia Best Companies to Work For in Asia from 2018 to 2022.

ofi Vietnam has innovated various approaches to equal recruitment while promoting women’s career development and leadership

Country head of ofi Vietnam Amit Verma stated, “To support our goals, purpose, and quality, we must continue to invest in our people, strengthen and improve our policies, empower our employees, and advocate inclusion habits to promote ofi as one of the best places to work in Vietnam.”

Meanwhile, Usha Kakaria-Cayaux, chief HR officer at ofi commented, “We believe that through strong leadership commitments to inclusion, diversity, and equity practices, we will be able to create a positive workplace that fosters a sense of belonging for every ofi employee globally, enabling them to unlock their full potential and passion.”

ofi has established the Inclusion, Diversity and Equality Council of ofi (IDEO), inviting leadership team members to help create a working environment where every employee feels welcomed and has a sense of belonging, irrespective of their gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, culture, age, or religious beliefs.

Over the last 10 years, ofi Vietnam has focused on bringing equal ground to female employees. Around 55 per cent of employees in its over 5,000-strong workforce are female. The organisation has made IDEO a key prerogative for optimisation. The company has innovated various approaches to equal recruitment while promoting women’s career development and leadership.

Promoting gender equality considered key to ending son preference The government, in collaboration with civil society organisations, is calling for renewed attention to ending son preference and addressing the undervaluing of girls.

Australia advances gender equality and social inclusion Up to 100 professionals from Vietnam’s Ministry of Transport attended a five-day workshop in early November to mainstream gender equality and social inclusion across the transport sector.

Honouring efforts on women's empowerment and gender equality Two Vietnam Business Coalition for Women's Empowerment (VBCWE) members, Phu Nhuan Jewelry JSC (PNJ) and Tan Son Nhat Airport Services JSC (SASCO), have been named among the Top 5 Enterprises Promoting Women's Empowerment and Gender Equality in the Workplace.