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Al Arabiya
26-06-2025
- Business
- Al Arabiya
Saudi Arabia highlights women's economic gains at high-level GCC gender dialogue
Saudi Arabia spotlighted its sweeping reforms and rising female workforce participation at a high-level GCC Gender Dialogue hosted in Dubai by the UAE Gender Balance Council and the World Bank. The Kingdom participated in the regional peer exchange last week, joining officials from the UAE and Bahrain in a series of workshops and dialogue sessions aimed at sharing policy best practices to support women's participation in the workforce. Representing Saudi Arabia, Dr. Hanadi Al-Hokair, General Director of Female Enablement at the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (HRSD), participated in the knowledge exchange session, where she presented the Kingdom's achievements and strategies for empowering women economically. During the session, al-Hokair emphasized the rapid progress Saudi Arabia has made, noting a dramatic rise in women's labor force participation – from 17 percent in 2017 to over 36 percent today. 'This event is a timely moment to reflect on how far the Kingdom has come in advancing women's participation in the workplace, and to share real-world lessons and successful strategies on what drives progress with our peers in the Gulf from the UAE and Bahrain,' she said. 'Saudi Arabia has achieved unprecedented milestones in women's economic empowerment… surpassing our Vision 2030 targets.' The event, led by the World Bank, included sessions on global best practices for gender-inclusive labor markets, including childcare policies, legal protections, and efforts to boost women's access in digital and green economy sectors. It also featured insights on the upcoming Women, Business and the Law (WBL) index methodology, a World Bank tool that benchmarks gender-related regulatory progress. Saudi Arabia's Vice Minister for Labor, Dr. Abdullah Abuthnain, echoed the Kingdom's commitment to long-term gender equity, stating: 'Women's economic empowerment is not merely a goal; it is a fundamental pillar for the Kingdom's long-term prosperity. In this spirit, the Ministry, in collaboration with government entities, national programs, and the private sector, has launched a series of structural reforms and initiatives since the launch of Saudi Vision 2030.' 'These reforms and initiatives, from equal pay legislation to transport support and maternity policies, have opened up real pathways for Saudi women to participate, progress, and lead in the workplace. We are proud to share our experience and to learn from our partners across the Gulf and the wider region.' Among Saudi Arabia's reforms and initiatives highlighted were: A rise in women holding mid- and senior-level management roles, now accounting for 44.1 percent, up from 28.6 percent in 2017, supported by leadership training in partnership with INSEAD, a non-profit business school. The Parallel Training initiative, which has helped over 122,000 women find employment through more than 800 programs across 46,000 private sector partners. The Wusool transport program, assisting more than 288,000 women with commuting to work. Legislation promoting equal pay and anti-discrimination in hiring and promotions. Expanded maternity leave to 12 weeks at full pay and increased access to childcare through the Qurrah initiative. Regulatory reforms ensuring equal retirement benefits for women. Support for modern work models such as freelance, remote, and flexible employment. These efforts have collectively contributed to stronger workforce participation, retention, and leadership opportunities for Saudi women – positioning the Kingdom as one of the most dynamic labor markets for women in the region.
South China Morning Post
28-05-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
What experts say Hong Kong gets right and wrong in plan to tap ‘silver economy'
Hong Kong's plan to tap the multibillion-dollar 'silver economy' and bolster elderly residents' spending power requires measures that will increase their participation in the workforce and give them more income, such as a flexible retirement age and better medical insurance, analysts have said. Advertisement The government on Tuesday announced 30 measures aimed at reaping the economic rewards of the ageing population. Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration Warner Cheuk Wing-hing outlined five key areas his new working group would tackle: boosting consumption, developing industries tied to the silver economy, promoting quality assurance of 'silver products', enhancing financial arrangements for the demographic and unleashing the productivity of older residents. Elderly women play cards in To Kwa Wan. According to authorities, the spending by people aged 60 and above reached about HK$342 billion in 2024. Photo: Sam Tsang 'As the population ages, the elderly are becoming healthier and wealthier,' Paul Yip Siu-fai, a professor at the department of social work and social administration at the University of Hong Kong, said. 'Providing more preferential offers to them will help drive the silver economy. 'This should be done, but it remains to be seen whether the measures are enough. More needed to be done to spur the overall growth of the market surrounding the needs of the elderly, he added. Advertisement The number of people aged 65 and above in Hong Kong is expected to increase from 1.64 million in 2023 to 2.67 million in 2043, accounting for about 35 per cent of the population, according to official projections.
Free Malaysia Today
20-05-2025
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Retaining women in workforce key challenge for Malaysia, says World Bank
Shakira Teh Sharifuddin said women's workforce participation in Malaysia is highest between the ages of 15 and 29. (Bernama pic) KUALA LUMPUR : Retaining female employees is a key concern for Malaysia to address in its push to boost women's workforce participation, says a World Bank senior economist. Shakira Teh Sharifuddin said women's workforce participation in Malaysia is highest between the ages of 15 and 29, indicating that many enter the workforce after finishing school. However, she said many women leave the workforce in their late 20s or 30s to care for children or elderly family members, and unlike in many countries, few return. 'This is Malaysia's biggest challenge – keeping women in the labour market,' she said at a panel discussion on creating family-friendly workplaces here today. Fellow panellist Amy Baum, a specialist in women's economic empowerment at UN Women, said workplace culture must evolve to support women. She also highlighted how an increasing number of companies are offering family-friendly policies like on-site childcare, flexible work hours, and shared parental leave. TalentCorp chairman Wong Shu Qi said both the public and private sectors must collaborate to build inclusive work environments suited to organisations of different sizes. She said the economic impact of gender inclusion is clear. 'Increasing women's participation in the labour force could boost Malaysia's GDP by 7% to 12%. This is not just a gender issue, it's an economic one,' she said, adding that inclusive workplaces also drive innovation and improve business performance. The labour force participation rate for women stood at 56.2% in 2023, according to the statistics department. The LFPR for female graduates in 2023 was higher at 83.2%. In 2023, women, family and community development minister Nancy Shukri said the government aspired to increase labour participation by women to 59% by 2025. Earlier, UN Women, LeadWomen, and TalentCorp – supported by Australia's department of foreign affairs and trade – launched the Malaysia Women's Empowerment Principles Corporate Action Lab (WEPsCAL) at a hotel here. WEPsCAL is a cohort-based programme that helps companies develop gender equality strategies. The first group includes 11 companies from various industries, such as AirAsia Aviation Management Services Sdn Bhd, and QSR Brands (M) Holdings Bhd. WEPs, a globally recognised framework, guides businesses in adopting gender-inclusive policies across their operations.
