The workshop presented the initial findings of a project carried out in Ha Noi in 2025, based on 324 survey questionnaires and 20 focus group discussions and in-depth interviews.
According to Associate Professor Dr Dang Thi Hoa, Deputy Director of the ISP, women engaged in small-scale trading, street vending and domestic work in the gig economy face numerous challenges due to low levels of education, poor health conditions, and the fact that most are aged 40 and above.
Nevertheless, they remain the primary breadwinners for their families, making significant contributions to household economies and gradually improving their status within both family and society.
Dr Nguyen Thi Phuong Hoa, also from the ISP, noted that nearly 70% of the women surveyed earn incomes equal to or higher than their husbands’, while more than 81% make most or all decisions regarding their own income.
Stable earnings and financial autonomy have enabled them to enhance their social standing, helping to narrow the gender gap in everyday life.
The research report also revealed that women in this group work an average of nearly 10 hours per day, with monthly incomes ranging between 4 and 8 million VND (151-303 USD), comparable to or even higher than factory workers’ wages.
According to Associate Professor Dr Dang Thi Hoa, women in the informal sector contribute significantly to household economies and to urban society, despite lacking social security.
Therefore, strengthening their economic empowerment is not only a matter of gender equality but also a driver of sustainable development.
With the advent of technology, an urgent question arises as to whether these disadvantaged women can adapt to the shift from traditional service provision to the society in order to maintain employment and household income.
Changes in urban management policies could significantly impact their work, risking lost income and unemployment if they cannot transition to digital services.
The gig economy, closely linked with the informal sector, is an economic model based on short-term, flexible jobs, often arranged through digital platforms rather than long-term contracts.
While the gig economy provides workers with flexibility and autonomy, it also carries risks due to instability and limited access to insurance and social benefits.
For women, the gig economy creates opportunities to participate in the labour market while balancing work and family responsibilities. However, they also face greater challenges than men due to barriers in digital skills, gender stereotypes, and the double burden of earning a living alongside household duties.
