INT'L WOMEN’S DAY UNDERSCORES COMMITMENT TO WOMEN’S EQUALITY AND EMPOWERMENT

KUALA LUMPUR, March 8 (Bernama) -- The International Women's Day celebration 2026, themed ‘Empowering Women, Strengthening the Nation', serves as an important platform to assess the role and current challenges faced by women in the country’s development, while reaffirming the government’s commitment to empowering them as key drivers of social and economic progress.

This year’s theme emphasises that women’s empowerment is not merely a matter of gender equality, but also a strategic factor in strengthening national resilience, particularly as the world faces global economic challenges, shifts in employment structures and increasingly complex social pressures.

At present, women in Malaysia continue to face various challenges, including gaps in labour force participation, the double burden of family caregiving responsibilities, limited access to broader economic opportunities, and issues related to safety and social well-being.

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Recognising these realities, the MADANI Government has implemented various comprehensive initiatives to empower women, through economic strengthening, social protection and efforts to increase their participation in decision-making processes at both national and corporate levels.

Among the key measures is the provision of nearly RM3 billion in dedicated financing funds for women entrepreneurs, through agencies such as Bank Rakyat, SME Bank, TEKUN Nasional and Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia, to help them to expand their businesses and enhance their competitiveness in the national economy.

In line with efforts to empower women as drivers of national development, the government has also introduced various support initiatives, focusing on strengthening the economy, family well-being and social protection for women.

Among the key measures is the provision of RM270 million in special financing for women entrepreneurs, including the Paduri MADANI scheme, aimed at expanding access to funding for women seeking to start or strengthen their businesses.

In terms of support for working women, the government provides a childcare fee subsidy of RM180 per month for children enrolled in registered taska (childcare centres), in addition to tax relief of up to RM3,000 for childcare fees for children aged up to 12 years, to help ease the cost burden of family care.

The initiative is also supported by workplace flexibility policies, including the implementation of work-from-home (WFH) arrangements under certain circumstances, to enable women to balance career and family responsibilities.

Women returning to the workforce are also assisted through initiatives such as the Career Comeback Programme (CCP), housewives through i-Suri, and gig workers through the Lindung Kendiri (Self-Employment Social Security Scheme).

The government is also giving special attention to single mothers through various welfare assistance, legal support, skills development programmes and employment opportunities, to ensure they are able to become self-reliant and break out of the cycle of poverty.

At the same time, efforts to strengthen the protection of women are being enhanced through anti-sexual harassment advocacy guidelines and improvements to reporting mechanisms to ensure a safer working and social environment.

In this regard, Minister of Women, Family and Community Development Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri, emphasised that efforts to empower women must be viewed as a national agenda item, involving cooperation among various parties, including the government, the private sector and civil society.

The Santubong Member of Parliament also said that women today not only play an important role within the family institution, but are also significant contributors to the country’s economic and social development.

“The government is committed to ensuring women have fair access to economic opportunities, education and leadership, so that their potential can be fully harnessed for the nation’s progress,” she said.

In line with this, the government has also reaffirmed its commitment to ensure that at least 30 per cent of decision-makers in government-linked companies (GLCs) and publicly listed companies are women, as part of efforts to strengthen women’s leadership in the corporate sector.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim also stressed that women’s empowerment is an important component of the country’s inclusive and sustainable development framework.

According to him, women must be given greater space and opportunities to lead, contribute and shape the country’s future, as the progress of a nation cannot be achieved without meaningful participation by women.

In the context of long-term policy, the government is also strengthening the implementation of the National Women Policy 2025-2030, which emphasises gender mainstreaming in every aspect of national development.

The policy underscores the commitment of the MADANI Government to increase women’s participation in the labour force, empower women’s leadership, strengthen protection against domestic violence and ensure the continued safeguarding of women’s social well-being.

Overall, the celebration of International Women's Day, on March 8 each year, is not only about recognising women’s contributions across various fields, but also a reminder that efforts to champion gender equality and women’s empowerment must continue consistently.

In line with the theme ‘Empowering Women, Strengthening the Nation,’ efforts to empower women are believed not only to enhance the well-being of families and communities, but also to serve as an important catalyst in building a more progressive, inclusive and resilient nation.

-- BERNAMA