KUALA LUMPUR: Do not just promote women as decision-makers at the workplace just to fulfil your corporate social responsibility, says Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
The Prime Minister said employers in the civil service or the corporate sector should not do so “for charity”.
Instead, they should be promoted because it was good for business, he said.
“We need to move forward,” Najib said.
“Research has shown that companies with a fair percentage of women at the decision-making levels have outperformed other firms admirably.
“The Government constantly monitors such development,” he said.
“And, I have ordered the Securities Commission and Bursa Malaysia to include in their reports of the diversity index in the public sector, including the representation of women at the top decision-making levels,” Najib added at the launch of the first Pasarnita permanent site here yesterday
The area in Bukit Nanas, Jalan Ampang, has been set aside to cater to women entrepreneurs where they could showcase their products.
Najib said the inclusion of the diversity index, which was made compulsory, was to allow the people to judge which companies had carried out their responsibilities towards empowering women.
“We need a diverse business composition to propel our economy,” he added.
Najib said the Government would fulfil its commitment to empower and nurture women entrepreneurs by providing them with easy access to credit, business networking opportunities and training courses, which are in line with the 11th Malaysia Plan.
He also called on women entrepreneurs to take advantage of social media so that they could expand their businesses outside Malaysia.
“They should not limit their business just within the country, but also at international and Asean region,” he added.
Also present at the event were Special Adviser to the Prime Minister for Women and Social Development Affairs Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil and Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor.
Source: The Star Online
