Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop: Remove Barriers for Greater Women Participation
Flexible work arrangement, care work support, men's involvement in childcare and the removal of policies that threaten opportunities for women to join the labour force can help boost their growth in the labour market.
According to Khazanah Research Institute (KRI) chairman Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop, the participation rate of women in the labour market at present is at 55%, much lower in comparison to their male counterparts at 88%.
During a virtual media briefing session on the publication of KRI's: "Work in an Evolving Malaysia: the State of Households 2020 Part II" on Tuesday, he said, "Although work is an option, the government policy can play a role in giving more space to women who want to work but face certain constraints and obstacles."
He added on to say that the overall unemployment rate in Malaysia was at 4.7% in August 2020 but far exceeded the average level of 3.0 - 4.0 previously. Although the employment rate dropped in August, he said that just by looking at the unemployment statistics alone, it can obscure the real market situation because some workers have to work part-time for survival even though they actually want to work full-time. Apart from that, among those who are self-employed, many have lost their means of livelihood as well.
Apart from self-employed workers, Nor Mohamed said the instability of the labour market also had a greater impact on the youths due to the high employment rate. To tackle this issue, he said that initiatives should be provided to give them work experience through apprenticeships or internships as well as provide incentives to employers to employ these youths and further increase their marketability opportunities.
5 Productive Things To Do While Staying Home
If you want your body to be fit, you must constantly exercise to keep your muscles strong. Similarly, if you want a healthy and fit mind, you must constantly stimulate your brain. Instead of scrolling through Netflix for the latest additions, here are a few productive things that you can do at home.
Take an online course
Not only does taking online courses help to keep your brain productive, it’s also an easy way to upskill and add another good thing on your CV. Refer to websites like Coursera or Futurelearn for online courses provided by prominent universities and sign up for the one you like.
Pick up a new language
Studying a second or third language has been proven to slow down dementia. In fact, bilinguals or multilinguals are known to be better problem solvers, multitaskers and are better at analysing their surroundings. Look for online videos or language apps to start learning!
Organise your closet
Has your wardrobe been piling up lately? Then now is the best time to organise things! Start decluttering and organise the clothes that you no longer use, whether to give them out to people you know, donate to charity or send them to cloth recycling centres.
Learn sign language
Since learning languages can stimulate the brain, add in a touch of humanity by learning the sign language. Look up for online videos or lessons and use the time that you have to learn this unique skill.
Learn to play a musical instrument
Did you know that playing musical instruments improves the brain’s executive functions like processing and retaining information, decision-making and problem-solving? Studies also showed that playing music can lessen anxiety levels and improve memory.
Women leaders in Malaysia: Tan Hooi Ling
Do you know who Tan Hooi Ling is? She is the co-founder and the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Grab Holdings Inc., fondly known as Grab. It’s a ride-hailing company cum mobile application that’s expanded beyond transportation and includes services such as food delivery and digital payment services.
Hooi Ling holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Bath, England and an MBA from Harvard Business School.
Prior to co-founding Grab, Hooi Ling had few working experiences. She worked at the pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly at Basingstoke, which became a turning point for her to shape her career path. She also garnered some experience as a business analyst at McKinsey & Company.
The grounds for Grab began when she worked on a business plan with Harvard Business School classmate, Anthony Tan. The idea for a mobile app that directly linked those who look for taxis closest to their location slowly solidified, even adding comments from her co-founder’s friends being concerned about the safety of female Malaysians when they hail taxis. In June 2012, the duo launched the app called MyTeksi.
Although Hooi Ling returned to work at McKinsey to finish her contract after the launch, she came back as the COO by 2015 to fully focus on the app that’s now called Grab.
Kudos to Hooi Ling for the major breakthrough and being a representative that Malaysian ladies can be proud of! We wish you all the best in your future endeavours and that you will prosper wherever you go.
Fun Facts: All About Love and Attraction
Fun Fact #1
Did you know that the feeling of butterflies in your stomach is caused by adrenaline? The term commonly used to describe the feeling you get when you see someone you like is actually your body’s reaction to stress. When humans are stressed, the ‘fight or flight’ response is activated.
In fact, you would get the same response, albeit on a higher degree, should you come across a deadly lion or a crocodile!
Fun Fact #2
Dilated pupils can reveal your attraction to someone. Your pupils dilate or contract due to iris muscles controlled by the autonomic nervous system, which can show reactions you can’t control (goosebumps, increased heart rate, etc).
Scientists throughout the years experimented by monitoring pupil dilations when their subjects are shown images of attractive people. Talk about eyes being the window to the soul, eh?
Fun Fact #3
In Greece, the apple is a symbol of love. It relates back to Greek mythology where the Greek god Dionysus offered apples to woo the goddess Aphrodite.
As it also symbolises ecstasy, fertility and abundance, Greeks would often offer any representation of the fruit for romantic relationships or at the altar to show their deep affection and love.
Fun Fact #4
Did you know that you can improve your overall health if you hold hands or cuddle with someone you love? A lot of research over the years have proven that these claims are true, from having healthier hearts when you often hug your beloved ones to having less stress and depression with more cuddling.
Physical contact with your beloved can also make you healthier and less prone to sickness!
4 Simple Ways to Make a Relationship Work
Relationships can be baffling, no matter if you’re in a newly-formed one or one that’s lasted for years. In today’s world, a lot of factors can come into play to affect how your relationship turns out in the end. On that note, here are a few tips on what you can do to make a relationship last, if not forever then for a long time.
Be a team player
Remember, it takes two to tango. Relationships can last if both sides do the work it needs. Contribute physically, like helping out with housework or emotionally, by being there when the other is having a bad day.
Communicate
Relationships can go on for years but you still won’t know your partner if you don’t communicate with them. Make a point to talk to each other and speak out your mind. They can be positive and negative - the point is to share your thoughts with each other.
Don’t keep scores
Nobody likes those who keep scores, no matter what the setting is. Keeping scores, or ‘berkira’ in Malay, usually means that the person is petty enough to keep tabs in the times that the partner wronged you. Relationships aren’t video games - period.
Trust and respect each other
In relationships, trust and respect come hand in hand. Not only do you need to trust their loyalty to you, it’s also important to trust that they need the occasional time and space away from you. Treat each other as equals, then trust and respect won’t be a problem.
Build Connections With Your Colleague: Remote Work Edition
Traditionally, people build connections in a professional setting by having teambuilding events or attending special occasions at the office. As remote work is becoming more common due to current circumstances, employers can no longer try the usual options as they are out of the picture. Here are a few things you can do to connect with your colleagues despite working remotely.
Be vulnerable & build the trust
Being a real person is in and putting up a strong facade is out. When the team leader is more honest and shows a bit about themselves, colleagues are more likely to trust them and share their own hopes and dreams. Start your online meetings by checking in with everyone’s state of mind before diving straight into work.
Be present & inclusive
Learn to listen, not hear, when a teammate is sharing their personal or professional concerns with you. Remote work comes with a lot of distractions from home or social media. Being there for each other will let the team know that no one is unheard or left behind.
Make time for one-on-one interactions
Sometimes, even the best-performing colleague can be daunted when they have to share their concerns in a group virtual meeting. Whether you’re a fellow employee or the superior, make sure to create chances to have one-on-one time with each other. Check in with a colleague if they look upset or demotivated and talk to them.
Top 10 Money Tips for Women
According to a study, a woman’s personality is directly related to her financial habits. The characteristics that usually lead to better money choices are self-assurance, open and flexible to change and an optimistic mindset. Here are some important money tips for women.
1. Don’t rely on someone else for your financial security - learn the ropes yourself!
2. Set your own financial goals and work to achieve it.
3. Don’t use your money for feel-good reasons too often - control your splurging habits.
4. Spend less than you earn so you can save more money.
5. Be free from debt before you get married. Make sure that your partner's settled his own too.
6. Learn from your past financial mistakes so that you won’t repeat them.
7. Don’t be afraid to invest - do proper research on what is worth investing on before you do.
8. Be involved in your family finances. Don’t be afraid to talk about managing money with your family or spouse.
9. Prepare an emergency fund. As the saying goes, save it for a rainy day!
10. Educate yourself. Money spent on college degrees is not a waste, it’s an investment for your own future.
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