Deputy Le Huy Luyen of the southern Ba Ria-Vung Tau province pointed out the disparity in pension rates for men and women because of their differing retirement ages.

“Pensions for women employees, who have to retire at 55, are always much lower than for men who only retire at 60,” he said.

He said the government should consider adjusting salary structures so that women get the same pay as men at the time of retirement.

Luyen, however, backed the provision to confirm 55 as the retirement age for women except for government officials and scientific researchers.

Agreeing with Luyen, deputy Huynh Thanh Lap of Ho Chi Minh City said women in “intellectual” jobs should retire at 60 or more.

Deputies also discussed reservation for women in elected bodies like people’s councils and the National Assembly, the country’s parliament.

The draft law offers two options, one stating that the ratio should not be less than 30 percent, and the other to keep it flexible.

Nguyen Thac Nhuong of the northern Bac Ninh province wanted to know if a reelection would be held under the first provision if less than 30 percent were elected.

He suggested that the reservation for women should be dictated by circumstances at a given period of time.

Tran Hong Viet of the southern Can Tho province wanted the government to offer more incentives to women.

“It should cut school fees by half for women senior high school and university students, and subsidize fees for women going for refresher courses,” he said.

Source: Thanh Nien, Tuoi Tre – Translated by Thu Thuy