KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 18 – The average number of women who sit on the board of directors in the top 100 listed companies is currently 32.2 per cent as of October 10, said prime minister Anwar Ibrahim in his Budget 2025 speech today.
“The target of 30 per cent (women on the board of directors) has been achieved but it hasn’t been fulfilled by 30 companies,” said Anwar.
“The government urges these companies to explain why they have not achieved this target and give them a year to consider increasing the number of women on their board.”
He said that women are also encouraged to work to help ease financial pressures. To encourage the return of women to the workforce, an additional tax deduction of 50 per cent for a period of 12 months will be given to employers who employ women back to work.
Additionally, to encourage work-life balance and to promote the care economy, the government is offering an additional tax deduction of 50 per cent on the cost of capacity development and software procurement, and a 50 per cent tax deduction for additional care leave.
