KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 30): Forty six percent of employees in flexible or hybrid work arrangements reported productivity gains of over 10%, said Wong Shu Qi, chairperson of Talent Corporation Malaysia Bhd (TalentCorp), citing a study by Aon Malaysia.
Organisations that champion better work-life practices, family-friendly facilities and supportive benefits not only attract great talent, but also retain dedicated employees that can benefit the business.
“Employers are no longer asking why flexibility or inclusivity matter, but how to weave them into their culture in ways that strengthen both people and productivity instead,” said Wong at the Life At Work Awards (LAWA) 2025 on Oct 30 at the Shangri-La Hotel Kuala Lumpur.
“It is a reminder that when organisations invest in people, the returns multiply in productivity, well-being and progress.”
LAWA 2025 presented 33 awards from 13 categories to organisations that champion diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) into their core workplace values. TalentCorp also introduced three new categories to recognise excellence across a broader range of categories that reflect Malaysia's future of work. The new categories present awards to the best future-ready university and college, future-ready school and changemaker.
This year’s LAWA saw a surge in interest with 266 companies having submitted more than 700 applications.
As the strategy think tank under the Human Resources Ministry, TalentCorp has launched skills initiatives over the past decade that address national and local talent priorities from flexible working arrangements advocacy, the Career Combat Programme that empowers workforce returnees and the Yes! Rock the School initiative that prepares the country’s youth for emerging careers.
The agency’s most recent effort is the MyMAHIR Future Talent Skills Council which gathers industry leaders, government agencies alongside TalentCorp to equip Malaysian talents with the skills needed for the future job market, and to build a skill-first Malaysia.
“TalentCorp has always believed that Malaysia's power must be both human-centred and entrepreneurial... We have helped more than 900,000 Malaysians experience better, more inclusive workplaces,” said Wong.
Minister of Human Resources Steven Sim Chee Keong shared that Malaysia has received almost RM400 billion in investments just last year alone, with major global tech giants contributing at least RM100 billion.
Amidst the rapid developments in technology, he acknowledged the concerns around artificial intelligence's (AI) impact on the workforce as it becomes faster, smarter and cheaper.
Recognising this shift, Sim called for the appreciation of labour workers, who make up a foundational component for the nation’s economy and growth. This falls in line with the theme of LAWA 2025, Driving Inclusivity and Powering Sustainability, which also coincides with the theme of the 47th Asean Summit which focuses on Inclusivity and Sustainability.
“The progress of our country, the progress of our nation, of our economy, cannot and must not
be measured only by the numbers of AI engineers, doctors and lawyers, but by how we treat the vast majority of workers, whose labour, though often undervalued, is essential to the functioning of society,” said Sim.
“My aspiration is very simple as the Minister of Human Resources, that every worker in Malaysia will be able to go to work in an honourable condition, that they receive dignified compensation, and at the end of every hard day at work, they will be able to go home safely to their family and loved ones. LAWA celebrates this spirit.”
LAWA 2025 winners include Mercedes-Benz Malaysia Sdn Bhd for best international organisation, Sunway Group for best public limited company, Q3 Management Solutions Sdn Bhd for best small and medium enterprise and Bank Negara Malaysia for best public sector organisation.