Deputy minister Lim Hui Ying says KPWKM is intensifying initiatives to raise women’s labour force participation to 60% by 2033, focusing on skills and homemakers

BUKIT MERTAJAM: The Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development (KPWKM) is intensifying various initiatives to increase women’s participation in the national workforce. The goal is to achieve the national target of 60% by 2033.

Deputy Minister Lim Hui Ying said the current national women’s labour force participation rate has reached 56.9%.

She stated that continuous efforts must be strengthened to reach the set target.

Among the efforts are implementing skills enhancement and retraining programmes. These specifically encourage homemakers to return to the job market.

“Although it seems small (the 60% target), it is not easy to achieve. Therefore, we will strive our utmost to achieve this target by 2033, including encouraging especially homemakers to return to the field of employment,” she told reporters after officiating the Penang-level International Women’s Day Celebration here.

She said the 56.9% rate is for those registered in the formal sector. Many women work in the informal sector and full-time homemakers are not included in that statistic.

Therefore, the government also emphasises the development of the care economy and care industry.

This is seen as a potential sector to open more job opportunities for women.

Earlier in her speech, Lim said Penang recorded a commendable increase in women’s labour force participation.

The rate was 57.6% in 2024 compared to 46.7% in 2022 and 47.3% in 2023.

She said this increase aligns with the state’s position as a hub for industry, technology, education and the creative economy.

It also proves Penang’s progress cannot be achieved without the active involvement of women.

 The Sun Malaysia