THE government announced various initiatives to promote women’s participation in the workforce under Budget 2020. They include the Women@Work incentives for women returning to the workforce, RM30mil for child care facilities, and 90 days of maternity leave.

Such initiatives are timely and welcome, as women’s participation in the labour force in Malaysia – currently at 55.8% compared to 80.9% for men – is among the lowest in South-East Asia. Furthermore, women in Malaysia who leave the workforce often do not return later in life, unlike their counterparts in Japan and South Korea.To further promote women’s participation in the workforce, the government must protect job seekers from discrimination and introduce paternity leave in the upcoming amendments to the Employment Act. Protecting jobseekers from discrimination is crucial as women, especially those who are pregnant or are returning to work, often face discrimination during job interviews.