KUCHING, March 19: Lack of women in positions of power in decision making is one of the struggles that underlies all of the women’s issues and policy battles in this modern world, said Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah.
The Minister of Women, Early Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development (KPWK), emphasised that from corporate boardrooms, to the courts and political leadership around the world, including Sarawak, the lack of women in senior positions continues to stymie progress on issues from pay gap, to humanitarian aid, and to discrimination in all its forms.
“Even if the majority graduating from universities are women, they rarely get to the top positions or top salaries,” she said in her speech during the Sarawak Women of Tomorrow 2022 (SWOT-22) – Bootcamp held at a local hotel, here today.
Based on the Department of Statistics Malaysia, Fatimah shared that the Salaries and Wages Survey Report released on July 14, 2021, Malaysian women still face a 5.9 per cent gender pay gap.
She stressed that the sooner everyone understand that the lack of women in leadership roles holds back not only women, but all people, the advancement of society as a whole will be promptly.
“That is why, we need to start early and start now in educating the public and empowering our women in order to break the ‘glass ceiling’, the inevitable hurdle towards progress that women frequently confront while seeking career advancement,” she said.
She pointed out that the right policy in place by the governments can help to close the gaps and eliminate gender biasness.
“The Federal government has announced a policy whereby all government-linked companies (GLC) and government-linked investment companies (GLICs) companies are required to appoint at least one female director before June 1, 2023, and at least 30 per cent female participation as board members of each GLC by the annual general meeting in 2023.
“Embracing such policy, the Sarawak government is committed in taking up positive initiatives, such as involving in this bootcamp, to ensure more and more of its women citizens becoming future leaders and fill up the C-suite positions and be well-placed at the position of power,” she added. – DayakDaily.
