Solving care burden will enhance women's contribution in workplace, experts say

Instead of reinforcing the stereotype that unpaid care work is women’s work, the government should introduce policies that promote shared parenting and care responsibilities, say experts. Photo: 123rf.com

On International Women’s Day last Friday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced that a Civil Service Remuneration System (CSRS) is being drawn up to consider shorter working hours for women employees to enable them to “better care for their families”. He admitted that this “flexibility” might involve "a different or lower pay rates for women”.

While Anwar’s intention may have been “to enhance the contribution of women”, Universiti Malaya’s senior lecturer and Master of Gender Studies Programme co-ordinator Dr Lai Suat Yan says that the rationale behind the proposal – as well as the lack of clarity and details of it – “raises more concerns than it offers answers”.