MEF urges stronger workplace policies and leadership pipelines to boost women’s participation and national competitiveness
PETALING JAYA: Women’s economic empowerment must be treated as a central pillar of Malaysia’s national competitiveness strategy as the country moves towards a knowledge-driven and innovation-led economy, the Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) said.
In conjunction with International Women’s Day, MEF president Datuk Dr Syed Hussain Syed Husman said stronger policy alignment and sustained employer commitment are needed to accelerate the advancement of women in the workforce.
“Malaysia has made notable progress in women’s educational attainment, with women accounting for more than 60% of enrolments in public universities. Female labour force participation has also increased from 46.8% in 2010 to approximately 56.2% in 2024.
“However, this remains below the national target of 60% by 2033 under the Madani Economic Framework and continues to lag behind several regional economies,” he said in a statement today.
Syed Hussain said women’s economic empowerment should be treated as a key pillar of Malaysia’s national competitiveness strategy rather than merely a social issue.
He added that expanding women’s participation across the workforce and leadership pipeline is crucial to sustaining growth in an increasingly dynamic global economy.
“Women remain underrepresented in corporate leadership. Current estimates indicate that women hold approximately 29% of board positions among the top 100 public listed companies, while participation in senior management roles across industries remains below 40%.
“Career interruptions due to caregiving responsibilities further contribute to skills attrition, reduced workforce continuity and long-term earnings disparities.”
Syed Hussain said organisations with greater female representation in leadership tend to show stronger financial performance, better governance and more effective risk management.
“Inclusive workplaces are more resilient workplaces. Companies that invest in developing female talent pipelines, support flexible work arrangements and implement equitable career advancement frameworks are better positioned to compete in an increasingly complex economic landscape.”
He said boosting women’s labour participation by 10 percentage points could increase Malaysia’s GDP by up to RM60 billion through stronger talent utilisation and productivity.
Syed Hussain added that advancing decent work for women requires equal access to quality employment opportunities, safe and discrimination-free workplaces, fair remuneration, transparent career progression and stronger support for work-life integration.
He called on employers to strengthen gender-responsive workplace policies, while urging policymakers and industry leaders to support inclusive labour market strategies that enable women to contribute fully to Malaysia’s economic growth.
“Empowering women is not only the right thing to do, but also the smart thing to do. When women are enabled to contribute fully and lead confidently, businesses become stronger, institutions more dynamic, and the nation more prosperous.
“Women’s economic empowerment must move beyond opportunity creation to measurable impact. As employers, we must ensure that workplace structures, talent development systems and leadership pipelines are designed to fully harness the capabilities of women at all levels of the organisation,” he said.
The Sun Malaysia
