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Participation of women in Malaysia's labour market is still low: PM Datuk Seri Ismail

Participation of women in Malaysia's labour market is still low: PM Datuk Seri Ismail

Although women made up 47.7% of the Malaysian population in 2020, only 55.5% of women are participating in the labour force as of last year, he said.

Speaking at Malaysia's 60th National Women’s Day celebration, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob has shared that the participation of women in the country’s labour market is still low compared to other Southeast Asian countries. 

As cited in Bernama, although women made up 47.7% of the Malaysian population in 2020, women’s participation in the labour force last year was only 55.5%. For comparison, Singapore and Thailand noted 69.7% and 66.8% respectively.

The government has since agreed at the National Social Council meeting to set up the gender focal point and gender focal teams at all ministries and agencies to increase women’s participation through gender mainstreaming in the planning and implementation stages of government policies and initiatives.

Government-linked companies and government-linked investment companies were also instructed to have at least 30% of women board members before their annual general meeting in 2023. To date, approximately 210 out of 900 private limited companies have over 30% of women on their board of directors.

PM Ismail went on to share several initiatives to aid women in the workforce (featured above in image). He lists TEKUNNita as an example - a programme under the National Entrepreneurial Group Economic Fund which involved an allocation of RM19.9mn for 2022 and has benefited 1,264 women. He also spoke about the DanaNita programme, which allocated RM10mn under Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara), funding a total of 265 participants as of 31 July.  

Ending off the Facebook post following the event, PM Ismail states: "I hope that the National Council of Women's Organisations will continue to be a strategic partner in the development of the country, and I call on all women to continue working together with the Government to develop this beloved Malaysia."


Photo / Pejabat Perdana Menteri Facebook

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