MELAKA: Short, industry-recognised courses can help more Malaysian women return to work, as fewer than six in 10 are in the workforce compared with more than eight in 10 men, says Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
The Deputy Prime Minister said women's labour force participation stood at 56.6% in 2025, against 83.3% for men.
The gap, he said, called for a closer look at what was keeping women from working and building careers.
Women who had left work to care for children or ageing parents needed room to renew their skills and rebuild their confidence, and the Jelita programme should be their door to starting again, he said.
"Do not let a career break become a full stop to their potential," he said when launching the Jelita Open Day 12 Hours Sprint Training at Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM) on Tuesday (Oct 27).
Jelita offers 50 industry-based certification programmes for women, each completed within 12 hours.
Ahmad Zahid said the short format made it easier for women to upskill while juggling work and family.
What mattered more, he said, was what participants could do once the 12 hours were over.
"Those who learn AI can use it to raise their productivity. Those in business will know how to expand their market and increase their income," he said.
He stressed that short courses still needed clear standards and recognition that industry could trust.
"Even though the duration is short, its value must be lasting," he said.
Participants should also be linked to jobs, further training, mentors or financing after completing their courses, he added.
Speaking to reporters later, he said Jelita had trained more than 10,000 participants in less than three years.
Of these, 5,000 had found jobs that added to their household income, while the other 5,000 were making products sold in physical stores or online.
"This is a game changer for women," he added.
