Malaysia has launched the Wanita MyWira Accelerator, a national program aimed at advancing women empowerment by equipping over 100,000 ladies with future-ready skills and opportunities beyond 2030. The initiative marks a major step toward closing the country’s gender gap in the workforce.
First ASEAN Nation in Global Gender Parity Network
The initiative, led by the Ministry of Human Resources, also known as KESUMA, through Talent Corp. Malaysia Berhad, was developed in partnership with the World Economic Forum.
With this launch, Malaysia becomes the first ASEAN country to join the Forum’s Global Gender Parity Accelerator Network, a platform committed to advancing women empowerment and economic inclusion worldwide.
The program’s first year targets 1,000 women enrolled in TalentCorp’s MyMahir-certified pathways and aims for an 80 percent job placement rate within six months of completion.
Backed by an RM15 million ($3.55 million) co-investment model, the initiative also involves 1,000 companies adopting flexible work arrangements, creating return opportunities and hiring trained graduates.
Training for Future-Ready Sectors
Human Resources Minister Steven Sim Chee Keong said the initiative underscores Malaysia’s dual commitment to ambition and inclusion.
He emphasized that KESUMA, through TalentCorp, is preparing Malaysian women for high-growth sectors such as artificial intelligence and renewable energy to align skills with the demands of a changing economy.
“Through Wanita MyWira, we aim to remove barriers to women’s workforce participation by promoting family-friendly policies and flexible jobs,” Sim said.
Recent government data shows encouraging progress: the gender pay gap narrowed from RM211 in 2023 to RM18 as of March 2025. Moreover, nearly half of Malaysia’s listed firms now have boards with more than 30 percent women directors.
Policies to Support Working Families
KESUMA has rolled out measures to create more supportive workplaces, including the right to flexible work arrangements, tax deductions of up to RM500,000 for employers adopting FWA, and a 50 percent tax deduction for paid caregiving leave.
Budget 2026 also expanded childcare tax relief to cover children aged six to twelve.
Women, Family and Community Development Minister Nancy Shukri said the program reflects Malaysia’s belief that women empowerment strengthens the nation’s economy.
“We are building real pathways for women to access decent work and contribute fully to the economy,” she said.
A Push Toward Gender Parity
Malaysia’s female labor force participation rate stands at 56.2 percent, slightly higher than the ASEAN average but below the national goal of 60 percent by 2030.
The World Economic Forum’s “Global Gender Gap Report 2025” ranked Malaysia 108th out of 146 countries, showing progress but highlighting the need for stronger action.
The Wanita MyWira Accelerator seeks to address these gaps by combining targeted training, employer partnerships, and childcare-friendly practices to make workforce entry and reentry easier for women.
Global Collaboration for Inclusive Growth
Saadia Zahidi, managing director at the World Economic Forum, said Malaysia’s accelerator provides a blueprint for regional reform. “By focusing on women’s access to opportunities in AI, digital, and green sectors, this initiative supports both gender equity and economic resilience,” she said.
Malaysia now joins more than 35 countries — including Japan, Chile, and Mexico — that have established similar accelerators under the Forum’s network, which promotes reforms such as gender pay-gap reporting and expanded parental leave.
Leadership and Implementation
The accelerator’s direction will be co-chaired by Ministers Steven Sim and Nancy Shukri, alongside private-sector leaders including Tunku Ali Redhauddin, Aireen Omar of BigPay, Dr. Jasmine Begum of Microsoft, Nurul A’in Abdul Latif of PwC Malaysia, and Anne Abraham of LeadWomen.
TalentCorp will lead the program’s implementation, supported by the relevant ministries and the World Economic Forum, ensuring Malaysia’s workforce transformation remains inclusive and sustainable.
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