Malaysia should emulate Thailand in developing women talent in workforce: TDRI director

KUALA LUMPUR - Organisations in Malaysia are encouraged to emulate Thailand in developing female talent to drive economic growth and prosperity in the country.

Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI) Economic Intelligence Service director Dr Kirida Bhaopichitr said women bring skills and knowledge needed to the workforce.

"In Thailand, 46 per cent of the chief financial officers are women while 24 per cent of the chief executives are women. This shows that women participation is very strong here in Thailand.

"Having women at the top level helps attract further female talent,” she said in a panel discussion at the 2023 World Women Economic and Business Forum.

She said female participation in Thailand’s labour force is high at 80 per cent among those aged 25 to 50 years old.

However, they leave the workforce on reaching 50, bringing the participation rate down by 10 per cent due to commitments such as taking care of the elderly.

This has "a lot of implications” at policy level at both government and business levels. For example, whether senior daycare or nursery services can be provided to ease the burden of employees and to retain them in the workforce.

The forum focused on the empowerment and leadership theme, and reiterated the importance of promoting diversity and inclusivity in the economic and business sectors.

Women leaders from the public and corporate sector, the media, women’s associations, global official institutions and non-governmental organisations were gathered under one roof, facilitating unprecedented access to distinguished women leaders. - BERNAMA