The top seven Malaysia winners, Red Communications, PwC Malaysia, Pinkcollar Employment Agency, Sarawak Energy Berhad, Bursa Malaysia Berhad, Bintang Capital Partners, Kiddocare Sdn Bhd, and are expected to advance to the WEPs Awards regional ceremony taking place on the 3rd of December 2024.
Anne Abraham, Founder and Chair of LeadWomen, commented: “The private sector has a critical role in advancing gender equality in Malaysia. The female labour force participation rate stands at only 55 per cent, compared to men’s 80 per cent. Further, women earn about 23 per cent less than men on average.
Since 2020, we have worked with UN Women to advance gender equality across Malaysia’s business ecosystem through increased commitment to and implementation of the Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs). This strategic partnership with UN Women and TalentCorp to launch the regional Gender Action Labs (GAL) programme in Malaysia marks a significant milestone in furthering women’s economic empowerment across the country and promoting an inclusive, equal, and sustainable future for all.”
Katja Freiwald, Technical Advisor on WEE for the UN Women Regional office for Asia and the Pacific, commented: “We are thrilled to see the Gender Action Lab launch in Malaysia. This marks an exciting new phase of our partnership with the Government of Australia to promote gender-responsive business conduct through the Women’s Empowerment Principles.
Through the Gender Action Lab and working with partners such as LeadWomen and Talent Corp, we look forward to deepening our existing efforts and engaging the private sector in Malaysia to foster innovation and co-create new solutions that transform the world of work to advance gender equality.”
Thomas Mathew, Group CEO of TalentCorp, emphasised the partnership's significant role in enhancing women's participation in Malaysia's workforce through collaborative efforts. "We are committed to advancing gender parity and will do so through TalentCorp's Wanita MyWira initiative, in collaboration with government, industry, and academic stakeholders," he stated.
Danielle Heinecke, The Australian Government High Commissioner to Malaysia, commented: “Australia is proud to deepen our existing partnership with UN Women by establishing the regional Gender Action Lab to advance women’s economic empowerment through and with the private sector. Launching the Gender Action Lab in Malaysia presents a unique opportunity for businesses across the country to take more strategic action, leverage innovation and partnerships, and develop new ways of working that accelerate progress towards gender equality.”
Notes to Editors
- The Women's Empowerment Principles are a set of Principles for business offering guidance on how to empower women in the workplace, marketplace and community. They are the result of a collaboration between the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) and the United Nations Global Compact. For more information, read here.
- For more information on the WEPs Awards, please read here.
- For more information about LeadWomen’s APAC DEI Summit 2024, please visit: https://bit.ly/LW-APACDEISummit-2024.
About LeadWomen
Founded in 2011, LeadWomen Sdn Bhd is committed to increasing women's representation in senior leadership and on corporate boards in Malaysia. Through advocacy, training, and board placements, we drive gender diversity forward. Recognising the need for sustained progress, we focus on workplace inclusion strategies to ensure women's retention and advancement.
As a thought leader in DEI, LeadWomen fosters commitment through courageous conversations and impactful content. Aligning with UN SDGs, particularly Goals 5, 8, 10, 16, and 17, we break down DEI concepts and establish sustainable action plans. Our mission is to embed DEI into organisational culture, emphasising its role in human and social capital development.
About UN Women
UN Women is the United Nations entity dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women. A global champion for women and girls, UN Women was established to accelerate progress on meeting their needs worldwide. For information on UN Women Asia and the Pacific, visit https://asiapacific.unwomen.org or follow @unwomenasia on LinkedIn, X, Facebook, and Instagram.
About Talent Corporation Malaysia Berhad (TalentCorp)
Talent Corporation Malaysia Berhad (TalentCorp) is a Ministry of Human Resources (KESUMA) agency that drives Malaysia’s talent strategy towards becoming a dynamic talent hub. To support the growth and well-being of all Malaysians, we partner with the public and private sectors on initiatives that attract, nurture, and retain the right expertise needed to meet current and future talent demands.
In March 2024, TalentCorp was mandated the strategic think tank for KESUMA, working with departments and agencies under the ministry to address the evolving challenges within the Malaysian workforce. For information on TalentCorp, visit www.talentcorp.com.my or follow @TalentCorpMsia on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
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