SHAH ALAM, April 12 — Selangor is looking to improve work-life balance to increase employee productivity, especially with family-friendly policies, said state executive councillor for women empowerment and welfare Anfaal Saari.
She explained that state policies launched in early 2025 focused on flexible work arrangements and care leave to support family needs and employee well-being.
She said the initiatives aim to encourage the private sector to introduce family-friendly work environments that not only benefit workers, but improves organisational efficiency and performance.
“This approach is based on Australia’s Parents At Work model which not only focuses on women’s needs, but covers all workers, as each individual has care responsibilities in their lives.
“Companies that prioritise family-friendly policies actually don’t just add value to the social inclusivity aspect, but also contributes to better productivity,” she said when met at her office in the Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Building.
Anfaal also said Wanita Berdaya Selangor (WBS) has held engagement sessions with government-linked companies (GLCs) since 2025, which have been well received.
“The basic principles we emphasise are that bosses must be more aware of and empathetic to workers’ needs because the reality is that each individual will undergo a phase related to the care sector in their lives.
“Results from studies done with Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Malaysia (UIAM) will also be tabled at a conference in Bali, which shows Selangor’s approach is gaining attention at the international level,” she added.
On November 16, she said work-from-home concepts at Menteri Besar Selangor (Incorporated), or MBI, presented positive impacts on productivity and the well-being of female employees.
Anfaal said the state government would integrate the policies through WBS’ research to allow working mothers to balance their careers and family obligations.
