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Categories
| Malaysian women hold 3 in 10 MLE management posts |
| Management | |||
| Written by Emily Tan | |||
| Monday, 04 May 2009 10:34 | |||
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Malaysia ranks fifth globally for senior positions held by women in medium to large enterprises (MLEs). Almost four in 10 MLEs (39%) have three or more women holding senior positions. A recent study by accounting and consulting firm Grant Thornton International also showed that the number of women leaders in MLEs had increased from 23% in 2007 to 31% last year. The data was collected at the end of last year. These findings were part of the Grant Thornton International Business Report, a study that provides insight into 7,200 privately held businesses across 36 economies. In Malaysia, 150 MLEs with 100 to 500 employees participated in this research. Malaysia is tied in fifth position with China, Taiwan and Mexico. “Women in Malaysia have broken the proverbial ‘glass ceiling’, not only in the corporate world but also in government, and particularly in overwhelming numbers at the universities,” said Seah Siew Yun, tax director of SJ Grant Thornton, in a recent statement. She added that as a tax specialist, she has never encountered an all-male management team. SJ Grant Thornton managing partner Datuk N K Jasani credited a recent government policy for the increase in the number of women in senior management positions in various sectors of the economy, such as government, manufacturing and healthcare. The policy aims to ensure that women hold at least 30% of all decision-making positions in the public sector. The study found the Philippines to have the highest percentage of women in senior management at 47%. This is followed by Russia (42%), Thailand (38%) and Poland (32%). Countries that have the fewest women in top posts are Japan (7%), Belgium (12%) and Denmark (13%). Turkish women were the most successful in increasing their share of management roles, with the figure rising from 17% in 2007 to 29% last year. Mexican women also won more senior posts, increasing their slice of the pie from 20% in 2007 to 31% last year. Canada increased its proportion of women leaders from 19% in 2007 to 28% last year. “It is encouraging that more women are emerging in a male-dominated business environment. This proves that women are equally strong and capable in contributing towards the growth of the society,” said Jasani. Women lost the most ground in Brazil, where their percentage in top posts plunged from 42% in 2007 to 29% last year. Globally, sectors with the highest percentage of women in leading positions are health and education (35%) and hospitality (34%). The worst drop is in financial services, where women lost ground from 31% in 2007 to 26% last year. This article appeared on the Management page, The Edge Financial Daily, May 4, 2009.
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