Latest news with #Women'sEmpowermentPrinciples
The Sun
21-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Move to boost women hires catching on
KUALA LUMPUR: Government tax incentives aimed at encouraging the hiring of women returning to the workforce and promoting flexible work policies are gaining traction among employers, said TalentCorp chairperson Wong Shu Qi. Wong said although official data has yet to be released, the agency has seen a surge in enquiries from companies keen to take advantage of the incentives. 'Last year, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced additional 50% tax incentives under Budget 2025 to encourage employers to hire women returning to work, adopt flexible work arrangements and provide paid caregiver leave. 'However, these incentives are in the process of being gazetted before full implementation.' She said to close the gender pay gap, the government is offering a one-year income tax exemption for women re-entering the workforce, part of a broader push to boost female labour participation. Speaking after launching Malaysia's first Women's Empowerment Principles (WEP) Corporate Action Lab yesterday, Wong said the policy would remain in place until 2027 as part of ongoing efforts. 'We will be announcing the full incentive mechanism soon. Once that is in place, more companies will come forward and we will be able to collect clearer data on women returning to work.' Earlier, theSun reported a need for greater salary transparency and stricter enforcement of fair pay to address gender wage disparities. Women's Aid Organisation executive director Nazreen Nizam highlighted that the absence of legislation mandating equal pay for work of equal value has allowed gender wage gaps to persist unchecked across various sectors. She stressed that Malaysia must roll out clear legal frameworks, backed by enforcement and penalties, to ensure pay equity. Wong said narrowing the gender pay gap is not the sole responsibility of any one agency as it also requires active participation from the private sector. 'A wide pay gap not only hampers economic growth but also shifts hidden costs to families. Tax relief policies are a start but they must be part of a broader strategy. 'There is no one-size-fits-all solution but businesses must understand that hiring more women delivers long-term returns. Failing to do so ultimately hurts the economy and individual companies.' She also reaffirmed TalentCorp's commitment to building pathways that empower women to balance careers and caregiving, aligned with the national target of 60% female labour participation. UN Women, LeadWomen and TalentCorp have launched the WEP, which is an initiative to guide companies in adopting gender-responsive strategies and creating more equitable workplaces. 'Malaysia's female labour participation has remained stagnant at around 56%. We have been working with policymakers and partners to push that number forward,' said Wong. Australian High Commission to Malaysia political and economic counsellor Clare Gatehouse said the proportion of women in senior management and board roles dropped from 40.4% in 2023 to 36.5% this year. 'Despite equal or higher levels of education, Malaysian women earn about 80% of what men make in similar roles.' To support change, Australia has worked with the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry to strengthen Malaysia's care economy, including by developing policies to improve the quality of care services for workers and users. 'Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri believes family-friendly workplaces and a strong care sector are crucial to achieving gender parity. Without focused action, we will not see these numbers improve,' she said.
Kuwait Times
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Kuwait Times
Kuwait highlights women's rights gains 20 years after suffrage
UN lauds Kuwait's progress, urges further empowerment KUWAIT: Women across Kuwait marked twenty years since they secured full political rights on Thursday. Speaking at an event held the same day, Minister of Social Affairs Dr Amthal Al-Huwailah recognized the milestone, highlighting the influence of Kuwaiti women across various fields. 'Kuwaiti women have proven themselves as vital pillars of national development, achieving success that has placed them at the forefront of progress and contribution,' she said during a forum titled 'Strategies to Support Kuwaiti Women in Line with Sustainable Development Goal 5,' held in collaboration with the UN office in Kuwait on Thursday. Today, Kuwaiti women make up 60 percent of the public sector workforce, 48 percent in the private sector, and 28 percent of leadership roles in state institutions, Al-Huwailah noted. In traditionally male-dominated sectors, they're also making strides—54 percent of employees at the Kuwait Petroleum Corporation are women, and 41 percent of leadership roles at the Central Bank of Kuwait are held by women. These gains haven't gone unnoticed. Kuwait's global ranking on the Women, Peace, and Security Index has risen to 62nd, and the gender gap has narrowed by ten points. Kuwait also became the first Gulf country to adopt the Women's Empowerment Principles in 2023, setting a new benchmark for the region. Laws amendments But progress isn't just about numbers. Al-Huwailah pointed to recent key legislative reforms that dismantled systemic injustice, including the recent repeal of Articles 153 and 182 of the Kuwaiti Penal Code. Article 153 had effectively legalized honor killings, allowing men to receive minimal sentences for murdering female relatives under the guise of 'protecting family honor.' Article 182 had let kidnappers, rapists included, walk free if they married their victims. The abolition of these laws was a turning point, aligning Kuwait's legal framework with constitutional guarantees of justice, equality and human dignity. Ghada Al-Taher, UN Resident Coordinator and Representative of the Secretary-General, emphasized that Kuwait's progress is being recognized internationally. During the 2025 Universal Periodic Review (UPR), the Human Rights Council commended the country for policies aimed at protecting women from violence, promoting economic independence, and expanding women's decision-making power. Education has become a powerful lever for transformation in Kuwait. According to UNESCO's 2024 data, Kuwait has nearly eradicated female illiteracy, with more women enrolling in STEM fields than ever before—positions that are vital to building a knowledge-driven economy. Women leaders In business, Kuwaiti women are reshaping the narrative. With state-backed initiatives supporting women entrepreneurs, more women now lead successful ventures. Some have gained international recognition, including Dr Faiza Al-Kharafi, the first woman to lead a university in the Middle East, and Sara Akbar, who was instrumental in extinguishing Kuwait's oil well fires after liberation. Both have been named among Forbes' 100 Most Powerful Women in the World, alongside others who continue to break ground in business, science, and public service. She also highlighted ongoing efforts to empower women with disabilities, with the Public Authority for Persons with Disabilities pushing initiatives to integrate this group into the workforce and provide access to specialized support. Despite these gains, Al-Taher acknowledged that deep-rooted challenges remain. 'We can't ignore the societal barriers that still prevent women and girls from fully realizing their potential,' she said. 'Achieving full empowerment requires relentless commitment—not just from the state but from every sector.' The UN reaffirmed its pledge to support Kuwait in reviewing legislation, expanding women-focused programs, and driving initiatives that place women at the center of national development—steps crucial to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 5 and ensuring no woman or girl is left behind.
The Citizen
27-04-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
What Freedom Day means to a young black businesswoman
'Freedom Day reminds us that political liberation must be backed by social, economic, and environmental freedom." As South Africa celebrates Freedom Day on Sunday – marking 31 years of a transition from apartheid to constitutional democracy – to entrepreneur Nombulelo Malinga, the day is about a commitment to building businesses that are 'aligned with purpose and sustainability'. In an interview with The Citizen, the 34-year-old founder and CEO of Zizi Digital, maintains that freedom means 'shaping a communications company that is unapologetically young, black, female-led and deeply committed to driving positive change across South Africa and the continent'. 'Freedom means we get to choose differently. We are free to create businesses that don't just chase profit, but build a better and sustainable world,' says Malinga Shaping the future Based in South Africa's economic hub, Johannesburg, Zizi Digital is leading a new generation of thinkers, storytellers, and digital strategists who believe that success is 'no longer just about commercial milestones – it's about aligning brands to a higher calling'. At the core of the company's work, is a deep commitment to supporting public and private sector initiatives, aligned with the United Nations' (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The agency specialises in behavioural change communications across South Africa and the African continent, focusing on campaigns that encourage meaningful shifts in communities and industries. 'This reflects a new kind of freedom – the ability not only to speak, but to influence, educate and inspire action in a world that urgently needs sustainable solutions. 'As a signatory to the Women's Empowerment Principles, supported by UN Global Compact and UN Women, we urge other organisations to align with the SDGs – recognising their critical importance in tackling South Africa's biggest challenges, from inequality to climate change. 'Freedom Day reminds us that political liberation must be backed by social, economic and environmental freedom. 'Our generation has the opportunity and the responsibility to actively shape that future,' says Malinga. ALSO READ: Malema condemns SA's 'incomplete freedom' during Brandfort Freedom Day rally Leadership values To Malinga, leadership includes 'a conscious responsibility towards the environment'. With a strong environmental policy in place, the agency prioritises sustainable practices in its operations – affirming that 'true freedom includes securing the health of the planet for generations to come'. In 2024, Zizi Digital earned a recognition as 'Top Gender Empowered Company' by Standard Bank. This honour, says Malinga, 'highlights the agency's commitment to fostering diversity, inclusion and leadership that breaks barriers – all vital elements in creating a truly free and equitable society'. With its rallying cry 'get the conversation going', Malinga says the company is proving that communications 'can be a powerful tool for change'. 'By blending creativity with intention, the team is using the freedoms of today to create a legacy where leadership is dynamic, diverse and transformative. 'We are not just building a brand, but rewriting what it looks like to lead in South Africa and Africa – young, black, female and purpose-driven,' she says. As South Africa – from Verwoerd to Nelson Mandela – reflects on the meaning of Freedom Day, Malinga has pledged to remind society that 'freedom is not the end of the journey, but the beginning'. NOW READ: Freedom Day: 'SA a free and sovereign country, not a province of US,' Mantashe says [VIDEOS]
