Female workers of Thai Binh northern province's Job Services Centre didn't know how to react to regulation that all workers have to take afternoon exercise at the office building's gym after working time.

The regulations of the Thai Binh Provincial Job Services Center. Article 6: Employees must do exercise after the working time.

If they don't obeyed the strict rules, each violator will be fined VND15,000 (22 cents) per day.

All workers have to abide by the regulation including when feeding an infant or feeling ill, except that he/she has doctor's prescription.

The rule, set up one year ago by the Labour Union of the Centre, under the Thai Binh Province's Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Department aimed to help workers improve their health condition, a Labour Union official explained.

Female workers complained that the rule wasn't suitable with their situation because most Vietnamese women had to assume the responsibility of housework after working time.

A female worker said "similar to most my female colleagues, after a working day I must go to market, pick up children at school, prepare dinner, wash clothes... I have no time for doing afternoon exercise."

Thai Binh Province People's Committee deputy chairwoman Cao Thi Hai said it was very good that the centre's labour union encouraged workers to do exercise after working time. But to fine violators for missing exercise was impossible.

She affirmed a further investigation would be underway.

VNS