DAP International Women’s Day Message By DAP Secretary-General and MP For Bagan Lim Guan Eng On 7.3.2017 in Kuala Lumpur.
Women plays a critical role in the economic development of a country and is described as the final barrier towards a developed and high-income economy. Developed countries and high-income economies have an average female labour force participation rate of at least 60%.
For this reason, Malaysia must increase its female labour force participation rate from the present 54% in 2015 to 60% to succeed in our transformation into a developed country and high-income economy. To succeed in this effort, the Federal government must encourage women to work not just with better pay and also equal promotion prospects, but also with incentives to allow their children to be taken off whilst they work.
The burden of child caring still falls on women in Malaysian society. Women will just not work if their children are not taken care of. Child care must fulfil the triple requisites of Availability, accessibility and affordability. Unfortunately the Federal government has not address these issues the seriousness and attention warranted by offering adequate physical facilities and monetary incentives.
Failure to encourage more women to work would jeorpardise Malaysia’s efforts to be a developed country and high-income economy by 2020. As British first woman Prime Minister once said, “If you want something said, ask a man; if you want something done, ask a woman.”
LIM GUAN ENG
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民主行动党秘书长兼峇眼国会议员于2017年3月7日在吉隆坡所发表的民主行动党国际妇女节所献词
马来西亚必须从现有的2015年54%女性就业率，增加至60%的女性就业率，以让我们要转型成为已发展国家及高收入国的目标取得成功。
女性在国家经济发展中扮演者非常重要的角色，可说是成为已发展国家及高收入经济体的最后一道关卡。在现有已发展国家及高收入经济体中女性就业率皆超过60%。
有鉴于此，大马必须从现有的2015年54%女性就业率，增加至60%的女性就业率，以让我们要转型成为已发展国家及高收入国的目标取得成功。同时为了成功，联邦政府为了鼓励女性就业不只必须给予更优渥的薪金及同等的升迁前途与机会，而且更必须在她们工作的时候能提供福利照顾他们的小孩。
在马来西亚，育儿的重责仍落在女人的身上。孩子们一日没有获得看顾，女人们就无法重返职场。孩童看护必须符合三个重要的原则，即可用性、可及性和可负担性。无奈的是，联邦政府并没有投入足够的资源包括硬体建设及金钱，来解决这个严峻的问题。
无法鼓励更多的妇女投入职场，将影响马来西亚迈向2020年先进国及高收入经济的目标。诚如英国第一位女首相曾说：“如果你需要信口开河、会说的人，得找个男人；如果你需要找具体做事儿的人，一定要找个女人。”
林冠英