AmAssurance aims to recruit 1,500 female insurance agents as part of a corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative to offer a channel to women hit by the current recession wave. Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun. Deputy Minister of Women, Family and Community Development, who was present to launch the campaign quoted statistics from the International Labour Organisation which reported that the women unemployment rate in 2008 stood at 6.3% compared to 5.9% for men. “Therefore it is regrettable that women are the first to be singled out when a company’s performance declines,” she says.

Called “What Women Want”, the campaign will be conducted via road shows throughout the country from next month till November this year. Speaking to reporters after the launch, Clement Heng, general manager, agency sales and training, life insurance division at AmLife Insurance Bhd says the additional 1,500 new recruits will bring the current ratio of female agents to 50% of the total agency force or 5,000 agents, compared to 30% currently.  “We believe that the “What Women Want” campaign is another approach where companies through CSR, can assist a larger segment of society by offering them - in this case, women - long term and sustainable solutions through training and career opportunities.” 

Heng also says that AmAssurance will introduce a Diploma in Financial Services at the end of this month, which is open to new recruits as well as existing agents. Speaking exclusively to The Edge, he says the program will incorporate existing training modules usually undertaken by agents. “It’s a part-time course where students learn during the weekends so they don’t have to resign from their jobs,” he says. The two-year diploma is a collaboration between AmAssurance, Malaysian Insurance Institute and Asia e University.