Low women representation in private sector

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Jamilah (front row, centre) takes a wefie with attendees at the celebration. From front fourth left are Rohani, Empiang, Fatimah and Rosey. — Photo by Jeffery Mostapa

Jamilah (front row, centre) takes a wefie with attendees at the celebration. From front fourth left are Rohani, Empiang, Fatimah and Rosey. — Photo by Jeffery Mostapa

KUCHING: Only 17 per cent of decision-making positions in the country’s corporate sector are filled by women compared to 34 per cent in the public sector.

Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Rohani Abdul Karim said a lot needs to be done towards achieving the target of women filling 30 per cent of decision-making positions in the private sector.

Rohani said she would meet with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to seek assistance on the matter, especially pertaining to the shaping of policies to empower women in the workforce.

On a positive note, Rohani said Malaysia recorded 54 per cent women’s participation in the workforce, just short of the 55 per cent target for this year.

“One of my ministry’s KPI (Key Performance Index) was to ensure the nation achieves 55 per cent women’s participation in the work force. At present, we have achieved 54 per cent. We will continue to improve women’s participation in the decision-making positions in both corporate and public sectors,” she told a press conference after the launching of an International Women’s Day celebration yesterday.

Rohani said the Malaysian chapter of the ‘30% Club’ has been established to help the country triple the percentage of women on corporate sector boards to 30 per cent by this year.

The initiative was started in the United Kingdom in 2010 to encourage the representation of women on company boards. The Malaysian chapter is the seventh after Ireland, the United States, South Africa, Hong Kong and Australia.

“We are trying to get more companies to have women represented in their board of management,” said Rohani.

On companies owned by women, she said Sarawak recorded 21.5 per cent women’s involvement compared to the national average of 19.2 per cent.

As of last month, statistics from the Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM) recorded 1.8 million registered women entrepreneurs nationwide.

In regards to literacy among women, Malaysia reached 92.1 per cent in 2013, an increase from 88.4 per cent in 2005.

Meanwhile, Rohani said her ministry would re-evaluate government policies to strengthen women as Malaysia is expected to reach ageing population status by 2030 – with 15 per cent of the population aged 60 and older.

She said according to World Health Organisation findings, women’s lifespan would increase to an average of 79 years compared to below 75 years for men.

“When we become an ageing nation, most probably we will have more women who end up becoming the head of the household. Because of this, my ministry is taking action to ensure we continue to upskill the women so they are able to take charge of the family.

“I do not want our women, in the event that something happens to the head of the household, they don’t know what to do. So we have to make sure they are independent. We have to translate these statistics into our policies, preparing the people when we become an ageing nation,” she explained.

Among those present were Association of Wives of Ministers and Assistant Ministers of Sarawak (Sabati) president Datin Patinggi Datuk Jamilah Anu, Welfare, Women and Family Development Minister Datuk Fatimah Abdullah, Assistant Minister of Early Childhood Education and Family Development Rosey Yunus and Sarakup Indu Dayak Sarawak (SIDS) chair Dato Sri Empiang Jabu.