PETALING JAYA: Women’s groups are left uncertain over the progress of gender equality in the country, with important legal changes promoting women’s rights up in the air amid the political turmoil.

This is in particular when the International Women’s Day falls on March 8. Women’s Centre for Change programme director Karen Lai said women’s groups have been pushing for legislation such as the proposed Sexual Harassment Bill and Gender Equality Bill for at least 20 years and 10 years respectively.

“The former Women, Community and Family Development Ministry said the government was looking into the Gender Equality Bill. It was also indicated that the Sexual Harassment Bill was to be tabled at the next Parliament meeting.

“We were excited as this was the result of decades of work. We feel deeply disappointed that this has to be put on hold because of political instability. Whatever happens politically, we hope that, no matter which government of the day prevails, this agenda will be carried forth, ” she said.

Market research company Ipsos released findings yesterday that only 17% of Malaysians think that women and men are equal.

This was despite some 36% of Malaysians saying that being confident was an important factor in helping women succeed, compared to the global average of 25%.

The study also said that one factor stopping women from getting equality was employers who did not help women to balance work and care responsibilities, with about 20% of Malaysians agreeing.

Lai said the promotion of gender equality in Malaysia was being hindered by many factors, including the expected role that women had to play in care work.

“Women are expected to do care work at home. Homemakers are not remunerated for their work and there is no social security -- something that disadvantages them.

“Even if the woman has a job, there is the expectation that she has to care for children and the elderly and oversee domestic chores. Many drop out of the workforce because they cannot cope with these competing demands, ” she said.

She cited a 2018 Khazanah Research Institute study showing that about 2.6 million women, mostly educated and of prime working age, were not part of the labour force due to family responsibilities.

Women’s Aid Organisation advocacy and communications officer Tan Heang-Lee said there has been progress towards reforming laws related to women’s rights before the political upheaval last week.

“The Sexual Harassment Bill and anti-stalking laws were slated to be tabled in Parliament in March.

“The Employment Act was also scheduled to be amended this year, which would have introduced paternity leave and anti-discrimination provisions as well as extended maternity leave.

“It now remains to be seen what will happen to these law reforms, ” she said.

https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2020/03/05/political-turmoil-hindering-equality