Abstract

This study employs a Tobit model to address bias arising from a censored dependent variable. The analysis uses a cleaned dataset of 6,001 observations from the 2022 Time Use Survey module of the Vietnam Household Living Standards Survey. Estimates of the latent time spent on unpaid work reveal persistent gender inequality. Holding other factors constant, women spend approximately 2.78 more hours per day on domestic work than men. A key contribution of the study is its quantification of the effect of formal employment contracts on unpaid domestic work: individuals with formal contracts spend approximately 0.34 fewer hours on housework. This finding suggests that fixed working hours may help shield workers from additional unpaid domestic responsibilities. Furthermore, the presence of children under six increases an individual’s estimated domestic workload by 2.51 hours per day. These findings provide an empirical basis for policies promoting formal employment and expanding childcare services for children under six.

Keywords: Employment contracts, gender inequality, Time Use Survey, Tobit model, unpaid labor.