21/05/2025

WEDNESDAY | MAY 21, 2025

4

Move to boost women hires catching on

o More companies expected to sign up for govt tax breaks once full incentive mechanism announced : TalentCorp

Ű BY QIRANA NABILLA MOHD RASHIDI newsdesk@thesundaily.com

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.

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 TANAH MERAH: Each day, more than 100 families in Kampung Peralla One here begin their routines with a shared hope that the air tandak (water collected from a small hilltop dam), their primary water source, does not run dry. Without access to a tap water supply, they depend solely on a makeshift water channel system constructed through cooperation using their own funds and labour. Air Tandak Kampung Peralla One chairperson Azhar Zakaria said the air tandak system was developed after the water supply from Air Kelantan Sdn Bhd became too inconsistent. “Sometimes, there was water and sometimes, there was not. Yet, the bill still came to RM100 a month. So,

From right: Women’s Economic Empowerment and Private Sector Engagement programme specialist Amy Baum, Wong, Gatehosue and LeadWomen consulting and client services manager Liza Liew during the launch. – AMIRUL SYAFIQ/THESUN

“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 Villagers rely on makeshift water channel system 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.” constructed using PVC pipes and cement channels, running from the hill to a water storage tank situated at the village. The tank supplies water to over 100 homes through a network of manually connected pipes. At the mini dam site, several residents were seen clearing channels clogged with leaves and mud. The path to the catchment area is steep and slippery, and residents also have to carry equipment such as hoes, pipes and water filters by hand. Several residents expressed hope for a more sustainable setup with government support, including the installation of a safer filtration system and a main water pipeline to the village. – Bernama Madani Agro Sales events have been held across 32 locations in the state, with Cap Feri rice as the main item sold, selling out within two hours at each venue. “At the state government level, there has been no formal monitoring or survey due to resource constraints.” Cap Feri rice was introduced to provide affordable, quality rice, specifically to meet the needs of the B40 group in the state. – Bernama

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. Premium wages at economic zone ISKANDAR PUTERI: Foreign investors in the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) have agreed to offer premium salaries starting from RM3,500 to local workers. Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi said the agreement was reached following discussions facilitated by the state branch of the Malaysian Investment Facilitation Centre and the Johor Talent Development Council. “One of the key matters discussed was the need to set a minimum salary of RM3,500 and above for diploma holders while degree holders should be offered at least RM4,000,” he said during the state legislative assembly sitting at Kota Iskandar yesterday. He was responding to a question from Datuk Zulkarnain Kamisan (BN–Sri Medan) about the state government’s requirements for foreign investors regarding the hiring of local workers and salary levels. Onn Hafiz added that investors have set key conditions, namely workforce productivity and technical skills must be aligned with the salaries being offered. On the hiring of local workers, he said the Investment, Trade and Industry Ministry at the federal level has stipulated that the workforce composition in the manufacturing sector must comprise at least 80% local workers. – Bernama

we decided to build our own air tandak system, tapping into a spring water source from the hill, channelling it into a large tank and distributing it to our homes.” He admitted that maintaining the system is no easy task. During rainy weather, leaves and sand often clog the mini dam and disrupt the flow, while in the hot season, the water source could dry up completely. Azhar said they have to ascend the hill at least twice a month to clean and carry out repairs on the water channel system. He added that each trip to the hill for cleaning and maintenance can cost up to RM200, a significant burden considering most residents work as rubber tappers or

construction workers. “We take turns contributing money to keep the village water system running. We are not wealthy but for the sake of our children and wives, we work hard. Even then, air tandak is not safe to drink, so we still have to buy mineral water for daily consumption,” he said. Food trader Nik Salleh Muhammad said the cost of buying bottled water for his business can reach up to RM500 a month. “If there is no clean water, I cannot run my shop. It is 2025 now, some villages have high-speed internet, but here we still have to climb a hill just to get clean water,” he said. A check by Bernama at the site found that the mini dam system was

Affordable rice brand benefits B40 group in Penang GEORGE TOWN: Nearly 48,000 B40 households in Penang have benefitted from the Cap Feri rice brand within the first three months of its launch on Dec 19 last year, the state legislative assembly was told yesterday. State Agrotechnology, Food Security and Cooperative accessible to B40 households. “As of March 20, the total production is 16,000 bags (80 metric tonnes), with a sales value of RM272,000. “The Cap Feri rice brand has received positive response due to its retail price of RM17 for a 5kg bag, making it one of the most affordable options on the market.” effectiveness of the Cap Feri rice initiative since its launch, including its ability to meet the needs of B40 households, the number of bags sold and key success indicators of the programme.

Fahmi added that the success of the Cap Feri rice initiative is measured by its sales during the Madani Agro Sales programme, with a minimum of 500 bags offered at each location. He said as of last month, 32

Development Committee chairman Fahmi Zainol said the brand of rice is sold throughout the state through sales centres that are easily

He was responding to an oral question from Izhar Shah Arif Shah (PN–Seberang Jaya) regarding the