Digi takes a concrete step in hiring and retaining women

Talent acquisition and retention have been raging issues for all industries for years, and more so when it comes to best female talent in mid to senior roles.In a bid to attract and retain female talent, Malaysia’s teclo brand Digi has announced a fully-paid six months’ maternity leave.Applicable from January this year, Digi said the first-of-its-kind move in Malaysia will greatly impact women in the company as it endeavours to boost women in leadership roles.Read also: The Futurist: Tackling talent issues with analyticsIncrease in pay vital to stopping Malaysia’s marketing talent drainCurrently 45% of its employees are women, with strong female representation in its leadership, including at senior management and board levels. This, says Digi, exceeds the government’s target of 30% women participation in boards of public listed companies.“We are extremely proud to institute the new global six-month standard maternity leave here in Malaysia. It is our goal to attract and retain the best talent, male or female, and we are confident that the revised maternity leave policy will make Digi not only a very attractive place to work, but also a place where women can build careers, continue to fill the ranks of our leadership and play a key role in supporting their families,” CEO Albern Murty said in a statement to local media.“Diversity is the aim of many organisations, but it is in inclusivity that the real difference is made. We are committed to continue building an organisation that better reflects the world we live in,” he added.The  move has been lauded by the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam). Chairman Tan Sri Hasmy Agam, in local media said the commission viewed this positive step, which aims to achieve gender balance at the workplace, as not only recognising women’s participation in the labour market but was also in line with the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights in terms of corporate responsibility."The commission also commends this positive and voluntary step that will raise the benchmark in terms of human rights protections by the private sector, as well as stimulate wider policy and legal reform at the Government level,” he said in a statement.