‘HAVE WOMEN MAKE UP 30PC OF WORKFORCE’
Provide women-friendly environments, DPM urges stakeholders
THE government, private sector and nonstate actors should come together to jointly create a conducive environment that would encourage more women to join the workforce.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said the government’s target was to have women comprise 30 per cent of the workforce, especially in the private sector, by 2030.
However, Dr Wan Azizah, who is also women, family and community development minister, said she realised the obstacles faced by women, especially mothers, which prevented them from having a career.
“Of course, we hope to meet the 30 per cent target as soon as possible. It would be even better if we could reach 50 per cent.
“As such, all three stakeholders — the government, private sector and non-state actors — must collaborate to provide womenfriendly environments to allow more women to enter the workforce and contribute to society.
“Measures include providing flexi-hours, for instance.
“This is our commitment and we will tackle and solve the issues effectively,” she said here yesterday.
Dr Wan Azizah said this after presenting her keynote address at the Women in Economy Conference, themed “Rethinking Entrepreneurship for Today’s Women”.
Organised by the Penang Women’s Development Corporation, the event was launched by Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow.
Dr Wan Azizah said to begin the process of increasing women’s participation in the workforce, all government departments and agencies should utilise whatever allocations they had to set up daycare centres in their respective offices by Jan 1.
Dr Wan Azizah said barely a generation ago, women were expected to be homemakers.
“Today, I stand in front of all of you, the movers and shakers of the business world, as well as politics. We have come a long way and there is more to be done.
“May 9 witnessed a milestone moment that brought us into a new era.
“There are many expectations that are associated with this new era, which has been given the moniker ‘Malaysia Baru’ or New Malaysia.
“The government and private sector have always been the two main pillars of the country’s development approach. This has its limitations.
“Over the years, however, we have seen a growth in the role of non-state actors in filling the vacuum.
“Non-governmental organisations (NGOs), individual volunteers, local communities, as well as social enterprises have emerged to provide services to the marginalised segments of society.
“We believe that these nonstate actors are, in fact, important for the future of the country. They are driven by altruism and the desire to help others, and are nimbler than state bureaucracies.
“The Fajr Doctrine envisions a future where non-state actors will become the third pillar of development.
“It envisions a future where the government and the private sector work together with non-state actors to catch those who fall through the cracks as we pursue development and growth.”