Selangor: About seven in 10 women in Selangor, or 69.7 per cent, are part of the workforce, Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari said. He stated that Selangor has surpassed the international standard of 30 per cent women participation in the workforce, with a significant number employed in human resources, manufacturing, and services sectors.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the increase aligns with the Selangor Women’s Policy and Action Plan 2024-2026, aiming to bring more women into the job market and strengthen an inclusive ecosystem for all residents of the state. Amirudin highlighted that the participation rate of women in the workforce reaching 69.7 per cent has set a benchmark, indicating that it is no longer considered a dogma or taboo subject.
He emphasized the need to boost women’s involvement in critical sectors such as engineering and leadership, which remains low, and to improve workplace treatment of women. Amirudin made these remarks at a press conference following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the Jelajah Wanita MyWIRA initiative between Wanita Berdaya Selangor (WBS) and TalentCorp. Human Resources Minister Steven Sim was also present at the event.
Amirudin noted that, besides necessity and talent, economic pressures requiring both husbands and wives to work drive the increasing number of women in the workforce. Regarding Jelajah Wanita MyWIRA, he mentioned that collaboration with the Human Resources Ministry and TalentCorp is crucial to ensuring that women in Selangor, particularly those from low- and middle-income groups, receive the support, skills, and opportunities needed for progress.
The programme, scheduled from April to November, will cover all 56 state constituencies in Selangor, serving as a platform to connect women with job opportunities and workforce integration support at all levels. Meanwhile, Sim stated that the initiative aims to empower 1.4 million women aged 20 to 44 in Selangor by providing direct access to empowerment opportunities and employment incentives under the MADANI government.
Sim added that the programme would be expanded to other states. Besides encouraging more women to return to work, it serves as a platform to promote various government incentives, such as tax relief for career returnees and flexible work arrangements that benefit both women and men.