Sustaining women in the workforce means rethinking care and policy

As more women enter paid work, there will be a need to expand childcare and eldercare infrastructure and ensure it is both affordable and high-quality. — AZHAR MAHFOF/The Star

AS Malaysia faces labour market pressure amid demographic shifts, expanding the nation’s talent pool is essential to sustaining economic competitiveness. The government has set a target of increasing the female labour force participation rate (FLFP) to 60%; currently it stands at 56.6%.

But is reaching 60% enough to secure a sustainable labour environment? Are current efforts sufficient to level the playing field, and can Malaysia find a long-term solution that advances gender parity beyond headline numbers?