Kao Vietnam launches the “Care within Reach” programme to improve access to sexual and reproductive health information and services for internal migrant women workers in HCM City on October 7. — Photo courtesy of the company

HCM CITY — Japanese-owned Kao Vietnam has launched the “Care within Reach: Advancing Women’s Health in Vietnam’s Industrial Zones” programme to improve migrant women workerss access to sexual and reproductive health information and services.

It will be implemented by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) in collaboration with UN Women and relevant government, healthcare, and workplace stakeholders.

The programme was announced at an event held in HCM City on October 7 to mark the Japanese company’s 30th anniversary in Việt Nam.

According to the 2024 Labour Force Survey, women account for 2.2 million internal migrant workers in Việt Nam as against 1.7 million men.

Some 46.4 per cent of internal migrants work in manufacturing and construction.

Access to health information and services, particularly sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services, remains limited for women workers in industrial zones.

A 2023 study found that nearly 35 per cent of female migrant workers surveyed had used SRH services since starting work in an industrial zone.

But there are barriers, with 25.5 per cent citing inconvenient clinic hours as the biggest obstacle, a difficulty particularly acute for shift and overtime workers.

Other challenges include healthcare costs, distance to medical facilities, difficulty accessing information, limited free healthcare support from employers, and concerns about privacy.

The “Care within Reach” initiative aims to address these barriers by taking health information, counselling, and support to women migrant workers.

It will also promote family-friendly and care-responsive workplace practices to improve access to healthcare and support women’s health, well-being, and continued participation in the workforce.

Shintaro Yasue, general director of Kao Vietnam, said: “Supporting healthier lives requires us to look beyond whether healthcare services are available and consider whether they are accessible to the people who need them.

“For internal migrant women workers in industrial zones, the realities of work and daily life can create barriers to seeking timely care.

“Through the Care within Reach programme, Kao Vietnam hopes to contribute to reducing these barriers and aims to work with the IOM and relevant stakeholders to develop approaches that better reflect the needs and circumstances of women workers.”

Kao has offices in Hà Nội and HCM City and a factory in Đồng Nai. It manufactures and imports consumer household, cosmetic, and industrial chemical products, with brands including Laurier, Bioré, Curél and KATE.

“As we look towards our next stage of growth, we aim to deliver new value to consumers by further strengthening our brands and products in the health and beauty field, while also advancing initiatives that contribute to addressing social issues in Việt Nam,” Yasue added. — VNS