UN Women, LeadWomen, and TalentCorp Launch first Malaysia Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs) Corporate Action Lab to Advance Gender Equality in Business

YB Ms Wong Shu Qi, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Clare Gatehouse, Australian High Commissioner to Malaysia, Amy Baum, UN Women, Liza Liew, LeadWomen jointly launch the Women Empowerment Principles Corporate Action Engagement Initiative (WEPsCAL)

KUALA LUMPUR, 20 MAY 2025 –UN Women, LeadWomen, and TalentCorp today launched the inaugural Malaysia Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs) Corporate Action Lab (WEPsCAL) at the Majestic Hotel in Kuala Lumpur. This is a signature programme under the platform of the UN Women Gender Action Lab: Innovation and Impact for Gender Equality in the Asia-Pacific, supported by the Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Malaysia is the first among four implementing countries to launch the WEPs Corporate Action Lab.

The WEPs Corporate Action Lab is a dynamic cohort-based program designed to support companies in assessing current progress and utilising data and tailored resources and support to co-create and implement targeted strategies and actions to promote gender equality aligned to a specific WEPs areas. The WEPs are a globally recognized framework to guide businesses toward gender-responsive policies and practices across their value chain, UN Women leverages the WEPs to engage the private sector for transformative impact for gender equality in business regardless of sector and size.

In Malaysia, the first WEPs Corporate Action Lab revolves around the theme ‘Innovating the Future of Family-Friendly Workplaces.’ The launch event announced the first Malaysian cohort of WEPs Changemakers. The cohort is made up of 11 companies across various industries and sizes:

• AirAsia Aviation Management Services Sdn Bhd
• FGV Holdings Berhad
• Grant Thornton Malaysia PLT
• HAYS Malaysia
• Kiddocare Sdn Bhd
• Mastrak Sdn Bhd
• Micron Memory Malaysia Sdn Bhd
• PEOPLElogy Development Sdn. Bhd.
• QSR Brands (M) Holdings Bhd
• Sagemaker Asia PLT
• WIPRO UNZA MALAYSIA SDN BHD

Speaking ahead of the WEPs Corporate Action Lab’s launch in Malaysia, Katja Freiwald, Regional Lead for Women’s Economic Empowerment and Migration, UN Women Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, said: “Transforming businesses and workplaces is key to increasing women’s labor force participation and building more inclusive, resilient economies. It’s exciting to see Malaysia leading the way with the WEPs Corporate Action Lab’s first theme— ‘Innovating the Future of Family-Friendly Workplaces’—a powerful step that holds promise for scalable solutions across Asia and the Pacific”.

YB Ms Wong Shu Qi delivered the keynote address at the WEPsCAL Launching Ceremony.

The launch also featured a panel discussion with YB Wong Shu Qi, TalentCorp Chairperson, Ms. Amy Baum, Programme Specialist, Women's Economic Empowerment and Private Sector Engagement, UN Women Asia-Pacific, Shakira Teh Sharifuddin, Senior Economist, The World Bank Group, Dr. John Loh, Chairman of Sustainability and Circular Economy, Small and Medium Enterprises Association (SAMENTA) on the importance of public-private collaboration in creating family-friendly workplaces to support the return, retention and success of women in the workplace.

Clare Gatehouse, Political and Economic Counsellor, Australian high Commission to Malaysia, said “Gender equality benefits everyone. It drives economic growth, enhances social cohesion, and increases the wellbeing of all members of society. Australia is proud to champion this innovative program supporting practical, private sector-led solutions for boosting women’s economic participation.”

Speaking at the event, YB Ms. Wong Shu Qi, TalentCorp Board of Directors Chairperson committed to empower women through TalentCorp, saying TalentCorp is proud to champion this initiative, working with partners to break down barriers and build pathways that enable women to balance careers and caregiving responsibilities, unlocking their full potential and shaping a future where gender equality drives national prosperity.

"This partnership marks a pivotal milestone in our collective commitment to empower women across Malaysia. By fostering strong public-private collaboration, we aim to accelerate progress towards achieving a 60% female labour participation rate, creating family-friendly workplaces that support women’s return, retention, and advancement, and ensuring equal opportunities for women to contribute and thrive in the workforce." she added.

Panel discussion session on the importance of public-private collaboration in creating a family-friendly workplace

The launch of the Malaysia WEPs Corporate Action Lab marks a significant step towards fostering gender equality in the Malaysian business landscape. LeadWomen, UN Women, and TalentCorp are confident that this initiative will empower companies to create more inclusive and equitable workplaces, contributing to a thriving economy where women can fully participate and lead. Moving forward, the organisations aim to expand the program, reaching more companies and driving systemic change to advance women's empowerment across Malaysia.

Aligning strongly with Malaysia’s Chair of ASEAN 2025 and its theme of ‘Sustainability and Inclusivity, the WEPs Corporate Action Lab’s focus on family-friendly workplaces, furthered bolstered by UN Women’s new partnership with the ASEAN-Business Advisory Council Malaysia in support of the ASEAN Inclusivity Collective, is poised to ignite a regional movement advancing inclusive economic growth throughout ASEAN. 

For more information, please visit: www.talentcorp.com.my/women

Issued by Talent Corporation Malaysia Berhad (TalentCorp)

20 May 2025