KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 19): Building wealth is not a priority for the current generation. Instead, they want workplace philosophies that align with their values, job satisfaction, work-life balance and a globally benchmarked workplace culture, while being supported by continuous learning, said Talent Corporation Malaysia Bhd (TalentCorp) group chief executive officer Thomas Mathew.

“In the past, jobs were for survival and for improving the standard of life, then came the digital and social era, the generation of today, where jobs are no more a means to an end,” said Mathew in his welcoming speech at the Life At Work Awards (LAWA) 2023 on Wednesday (Oct 18) at M Resort and Hotel Kuala Lumpur.

LAWA 2023 honoured 30 winners from eight categories that excelled in incorporating diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in their workplace. TalentCorp also introduced new categories to recognise leaderships, teams and individuals who have served as catalysts in enhancing employee well-being.

Embodying six cores of the Malaysia Madani principles, the government’s focus remains on eradicating poverty and reinforcing inclusivity. Human Resources Minister V Sivakumar stressed the importance of implementing structures and mechanisms so that talents feel supported to continue working.

“A diverse workforce is an innovative workforce. What’s more, the deeper diversity runs in an organisation, the more significant this connection becomes,” said Sivakumar in his keynote address at LAWA 2023.

“Employers need to align workforce practice with the evolving requirements of the nation's multi-generational workforce.”

As Malaysia continues to battle for talents to bolster the nation’s foreign direct investment and encourage domestic direct investment, Mathew lamented that the struggle to retain talent will prevail if their needs are not met, not just locally but globally.

According to Budget 2024, the government aims to raise the female labour force participation rate to 60%, which aligns with TalentCorp’s DEI agenda in encouraging women to return to the workforce.

Sivakumar also shared that tax incentives offered under The Career Comeback programme by TalentCorp will be extended until Dec 31, 2027.

The programme is available to Malaysian women who have a minimum of three years of working experience, are on a career break for more than six months and remain unemployed during the career break.

TalentCorp, along with the ministry, is encouraging employers to establish industry-driven childcare centers, with assistance from TalentCorp through their Childcare Center Initiative.

Malayan Banking Bhd (Maybank) was awarded the Best Malaysian Organisation, as well as Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) Champion and Diversity Hiring.