PETALING JAYA: The government’s 60% female workforce participation target under the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) is a positive move, but it must be matched by deeper inclusion and accountability, says Yayasan Chow Kit co-founder Datuk Dr Hartini Zainudin.
She stressed that participation alone is not enough if the structural inequalities facing marginalised groups remain unaddressed.
“It’s not only about reaching 60%, it’s also about who is part of that 60%, and under what conditions,” she said in an interview.
Hartini welcomed efforts to expand childcare, upskill women and create supportive workplaces but warned that many are still left behind – including rural, Indigenous and stateless women, as well as those in the gig economy and informal sectors.
She said that care work must also be recognised and supported through public investment, especially for women burdened with unpaid caregiving duties in underserved communities.
Hartini, who is a child activist, urged the government to include women not just as beneficiaries but also as decision-makers.
While the 56.5% participation rate in 2024 marks an improvement from 55.1% in 2020, Hartini questioned whether it is sufficient in a country where women make up nearly half the population.
Engender Consultancy founder and principal consultant Omna-Sreeni Ong said the 60% female labour participation target under the 13MP required “coherent, multipronged action” to speed up progress through an inter-agency action plan.
Omna-Sreeni, who also co-chairs the Malaysian CSO-SDG Alliance, stressed that entrenched gender norms remain a key barrier.
“This won’t materialise naturally. It needs strong political will to make it happen.”
CnetG Asia managing partner Raj Kumar Paramanathan said female labour force participation must go beyond policy.
“Implementation must be consistent, measurable and incentivised, especially in rural areas.”
He stressed that retaining women in the workforce requires public investment in childcare as infrastructure, not welfare.
“Childcare should be treated like education or transport – publicly funded, accessible and job-generating.
“This includes creating childcare centres near low-cost flats with trained staff, encouraging mothers to return to the job market, and creating jobs for unemployed graduates and locals.”
Yesterday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the 13MP aims to raise female labour force participation to 60% by 2030, with measures such as expanded childcare, reskilling and gender-inclusive workplace initiatives.
He said the five-year roadmap seeks to create a more inclusive workforce, especially for mothers and women returning to work.
