PETALING JAYA: Caring for elderly parents is becoming an increasingly important consideration for working families.
Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri R. Ramanan said caregiving responsibilities could affect a person’s ability to remain in employment, with wider implications for workforce participation, talent retention and productivity.
“Caregiving responsibilities can have a very real impact on an individual’s ability to remain in employment,” he told The Star.
He said the objective was to foster an inclusive labour market that allowed caregivers to remain economically active and avoid unnecessary loss of skilled workers.
The issue is unlikely to have a single workplace solution, however, as the needs of an office employee can differ sharply from those of someone working in manufacturing, healthcare, hospitality, retail, logistics or security.
Ramanan said employers could consider arrangements such as adjustments to working days, compressed work weeks, job-sharing and appropriate family-care leave, depending on operational needs.
“Flexibility cannot, however, be one-size-fits-all. Different industries and occupations have different operational requirements,” he said.
The latest Statistics Department figures show that 7.11 million people were outside the labour force in July, with housework and family responsibilities accounting for 43.3% – the largest category.
The figure covers family responsibilities more broadly and is not limited to eldercare.
The growing older population adds another dimension.
Malaysians aged 65 and above made up 8.4% of the population in 2026, up from 8.0% in 2025.
Malaysian Employers Federation president Datuk Dr Syed Hussain Syed Husman said employers should explore ways to accommodate employees with genuine caregiving responsibilities.
“An arrangement that is workable for an office-based employee may not be practical for employees in manufacturing, healthcare, hospitality, retail, logistics, security or other jobs requiring physical presence and continuous service,” he said.
He said retaining experienced employees who might otherwise leave the workforce because of caregiving responsibilities could also benefit employers by reducing recruitment and training costs and preserving institutional knowledge.
Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia president Datuk Ng Yih Pyng said businesses needed to find a balance between employees’ family responsibilities and work commitments.
“Solutions should reflect the needs and capacity of different industries and businesses,” he added.
Senior lawyer K. Siladass said legal provisions alone would not be enough if employers and society were unwilling to accommodate family caregivers.
“You can make legislation, but if the mind, the people and society cannot adapt themselves, whatever law you make, it will be useless,” he said.
