THE government is looking into extending the work from home (WFH) arrangement in the public and private sectors to enable workers to care for their children or an ailing family member.

Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said this was to encourage shared responsibility and enable women to remain in employment and be more productive at work.

“I suggest that the Public Service Department and the Human Resources Ministry look into the feasibility of extending this facility,” he said in a Women’s Day speech broadcast on TV yesterday.

He said the government was also looking into extending the WFH arrangement to workers whose spouses have just died.

Muhyiddin urged all parties to ensure a safe working environment, including taking measures to prevent sexual harassment at the workplace.

“(They must) also ensure that all aspects of planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation are based on gender-responsive budget analysis,” he said.

He also called on the public and private sectors to take advantage of government grants for the establishment of childcare centres on their work premises, which he said would give a multiplier effect for many parties.

Muhyiddin said women should be represented at a higher level and be included as decision makers.

On business facilities for women, he said under MyDigital and and the Malaysia Digital Economy Blueprint, the government would provide incentives called MyKasih Kapital.

“... this is a business capital injection for businesses such as e-commerce or dropship with a maximum capital of RM1,000 each for at least 2,000 eligible recipients,” he said.

The government will also set up the Waja Squad with the participation of women in the community to provide psychosocial support and raise awareness of violence against women and women’s rights. – Bernama, March 9, 2021.