Vietnam Airlines Supports the Campaign “Ring the Bell for Gender Equality”

On March 4th, Vietnam Airlines participated in the “Ring the Bell for Gender Equality” campaign. This initiative, led by UN Women, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the Sustainable Stock Exchanges (SSE), the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), and the World Federation of Exchanges (WFE), aims to promote gender equality and women’s empowerment in the business community.

This marks the 10th year of the global “Ring the Bell for Gender Equality” event and the 6th time that Vietnam has participated. The campaign emphasizes the key role of the private sector in advancing gender equality and empowering women economically to foster sustainable development for businesses and society.

In a world facing multiple crises, recent estimates show that 75% of countries will reduce spending on essential public services and social protection, making achieving gender equality more critical than ever. Ensuring gender equality and empowering women economically is the best way to ensure a thriving economy and sustainable social development. In 2024, the United Nations chose the theme for International Women's Day: Invest in Women: Accelerate Development. This year’s event calls on the private sector, particularly businesses, stock exchanges, and listed companies, to increase investments in the development of women and gender equality at workplaces, in communities, and in markets.

The event included a discussion session titled “Investing in Women: From Policy to Practice”, with the participation of Mrs. Nguyễn Đức Hạnh, Head of the Vietnam Airlines Flight Attendants’ Union; Mrs. Lê Hồng Thuỷ Tiên, CEO of the Inter-Pacific Group; Mrs. Trần Anh Đào, Deputy CEO of the Ho Chi Minh City Stock Exchange; and Mr. Đậu Phi Quyết, Deputy CEO of Việt Thắng Company.

The speakers exchanged and shared corporate policies and practices on gender equality, as well as the budget allocation for gender-related activities to ensure no one is left behind.

During the discussion, Mrs. Nguyễn Đức Hạnh, Head of the Vietnam Airlines Flight Attendants’ Union, shared: “Vietnam Airlines is a unique enterprise with 53% of its workforce being female, and particularly, the Flight Attendant Union, where over 70% of employees are women. Therefore, the company places a strong emphasis on gender equality issues, such as recruitment, training, and the development of female leadership. Vietnam Airlines also has dedicated personnel for gender equality and offers strong policies for female employees, including equal treatment in recruitment and training, ensuring maternity leave and benefits, as well as a supportive work environment. We also organize programs and activities to celebrate key holidays for women, and offer training courses to develop personal skills and workshops to help female employees balance work and family.”

Mrs. Hạnh further shared that every year, Vietnam Airlines organizes a variety of activities and programs to promote gender equality, such as contests on “Preventing Social Issues,” “Understanding the Law on Preventing Domestic Violence,” and “Dynamic, Creative, Capable, Elegant Women in Aviation.” Notably, the “Color the Sky Orange” series of events has gained significant attention and success, confirming Vietnam Airlines' efforts in collaboration with domestic and international organizations to raise awareness in the community and promote practical actions to prevent violence, respect for women, child protection, and ultimately achieve gender equality as a foundation for sustainable development in Vietnam.

With the support of the leadership of Vietnam Airlines for gender equality activities, the company annually allocates funds for programs that promote gender equality and care for female employees, as well as partnering with ministries and agencies to implement meaningful activities for women.

The event concluded with the organizers and guest speakers performing the “Ring the Bell for Gender Equality” ceremony, marking the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women economically, which contributes to sustainable development for businesses and society.

The “Ring the Bell for Gender Equality” event ended successfully, reflecting the call for all stakeholders and the business community to join hands in building a strong business community and a prosperous, gender-equal economy.