ID :
139404
Thu, 08/26/2010 - 11:41
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/139404
The shortlink copeid
PM ASKS EMPLOYERS TO FIND WAYS TO ENCOURAGE WOMEN TO CONTRIBUTE EXPERTISE
BANGI (Selangor, Malaysia) Aug 26 (Bernama) -- Employers have various options to encourage women to contribute their knowledge and expertise in the marketplace, said Prime Minister Najib Razak.
He said these included working from home and adopting the flexi-hours approach
which would be beneficial to them as it would allow women to work according to
their time ability.
"If they can work only four hours a day, we will need to come up with a system
to accomodate this to enable women with needed expertise join the workforce.
"Such a step can be beneficial to employers. For example, during peak time work
when additional manpower is required, we can employ them. The same goes for
lunchtime, they can take over during this period," he said when opening the
national level Women's Day 2010 celebration at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
(UKM), here Wednesday.
Also present were the prime minsiter's wife Rosmah Mansor and Women, Family and
Community Development Minister Shahrizat Abdul Jalil.
Najib said the pionneer "Work From Home" programme introduced by the works
ministry involved the participation of 38 people, mostly women.
He said the programme, which began in January and was initially meant for three
months but was extended to September, helped participants save costs in terms of
road toll payments, petrol, public transportation costs, parking fees and
vehicle maintenance costs.
"I have also been made to understand by the ministry that productivity has gone
up," he said.
He said it was the same with having creches at workplaces, as this facility
helped women to continue working with peace of mind.
In connection with this, he said the government had asked offices, be they in
the public or private sector, to set up creches for working mothers.
Najib said the Work Regulations (Part-Time Workers) Act 2010 when it comes into
force on Oct 1 would provide ample job opportunities including for women and was
expected to benefit some 6.5 million Malaysians, comprising housewives, single
mothers, retirees, disabled persons and students of higher learning
institutions.
He said focus was also being given to increase the number of women
entrepreneurs and that the government targeted producing 4,000 women
eentrepreneurs by the end of 2012.
"I have been informed that to date, 3,255 women entreprenuers have been
produced. This is something to be proud of, more so because the target set was
to have 2,000 women entrepreneurs by the end of this year. This means the Women,
Family and Community Development Minister has exceeded her Key Performance
Indices (KPI) target," he said.
He added that all government policies stressed on the importance of women
including the 10th Malaysia Plan which placed emphasis on four areas to enable
women to make their contribution towards nationbuilding, namely increasing the
participation of women in the workforce; increasing the number of women decision
makers; improving support mechanisms for women faced with difficulties like
widows, single mothers and those in the lower income group; and eradicate all
forms of discrimination against women.
He said a lack of participation of women in the marketplace would be a loss for
the nation and that the Talent Corporation which would be set up soon would help
attract Malaysian women professionals abroad to come home and contribute their
expertise to the country.
In recognition of the role and contributions of Malaysian women, Najib said, the
government would be introducing two prestigious awards, The Best Women
Entrepreneur Premier Award and Best Woman Social Activist Premier Award, which
would be presented at the Women's Day celebration next year.
On social problems, Najib said the contributions of women as wives and mothers
was huge in tackling them and in the process helped the country chart a bright
future for the people.
At the function, Najib also had video-conferencing with cief ministers of East
Malaysia state of Sarawak Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud, southern state of Johor
Abdul Ghani Othman and east coast state of Terengganu Ahmad Said.
The video-conferencing which lasted for about 15 minutes discussed on the role
of women decision makers in Sarawak, women and the economy in Johor and
empowering women entrepreneurs in Terengganu.
-- BERNAMA
He said these included working from home and adopting the flexi-hours approach
which would be beneficial to them as it would allow women to work according to
their time ability.
"If they can work only four hours a day, we will need to come up with a system
to accomodate this to enable women with needed expertise join the workforce.
"Such a step can be beneficial to employers. For example, during peak time work
when additional manpower is required, we can employ them. The same goes for
lunchtime, they can take over during this period," he said when opening the
national level Women's Day 2010 celebration at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
(UKM), here Wednesday.
Also present were the prime minsiter's wife Rosmah Mansor and Women, Family and
Community Development Minister Shahrizat Abdul Jalil.
Najib said the pionneer "Work From Home" programme introduced by the works
ministry involved the participation of 38 people, mostly women.
He said the programme, which began in January and was initially meant for three
months but was extended to September, helped participants save costs in terms of
road toll payments, petrol, public transportation costs, parking fees and
vehicle maintenance costs.
"I have also been made to understand by the ministry that productivity has gone
up," he said.
He said it was the same with having creches at workplaces, as this facility
helped women to continue working with peace of mind.
In connection with this, he said the government had asked offices, be they in
the public or private sector, to set up creches for working mothers.
Najib said the Work Regulations (Part-Time Workers) Act 2010 when it comes into
force on Oct 1 would provide ample job opportunities including for women and was
expected to benefit some 6.5 million Malaysians, comprising housewives, single
mothers, retirees, disabled persons and students of higher learning
institutions.
He said focus was also being given to increase the number of women
entrepreneurs and that the government targeted producing 4,000 women
eentrepreneurs by the end of 2012.
"I have been informed that to date, 3,255 women entreprenuers have been
produced. This is something to be proud of, more so because the target set was
to have 2,000 women entrepreneurs by the end of this year. This means the Women,
Family and Community Development Minister has exceeded her Key Performance
Indices (KPI) target," he said.
He added that all government policies stressed on the importance of women
including the 10th Malaysia Plan which placed emphasis on four areas to enable
women to make their contribution towards nationbuilding, namely increasing the
participation of women in the workforce; increasing the number of women decision
makers; improving support mechanisms for women faced with difficulties like
widows, single mothers and those in the lower income group; and eradicate all
forms of discrimination against women.
He said a lack of participation of women in the marketplace would be a loss for
the nation and that the Talent Corporation which would be set up soon would help
attract Malaysian women professionals abroad to come home and contribute their
expertise to the country.
In recognition of the role and contributions of Malaysian women, Najib said, the
government would be introducing two prestigious awards, The Best Women
Entrepreneur Premier Award and Best Woman Social Activist Premier Award, which
would be presented at the Women's Day celebration next year.
On social problems, Najib said the contributions of women as wives and mothers
was huge in tackling them and in the process helped the country chart a bright
future for the people.
At the function, Najib also had video-conferencing with cief ministers of East
Malaysia state of Sarawak Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud, southern state of Johor
Abdul Ghani Othman and east coast state of Terengganu Ahmad Said.
The video-conferencing which lasted for about 15 minutes discussed on the role
of women decision makers in Sarawak, women and the economy in Johor and
empowering women entrepreneurs in Terengganu.
-- BERNAMA
