Abstract

Malaysia has moved away from the sole breadwinner towards a dual breadwinner paradigm. Important criterion of success for such new paradigm is the integration of women and particularly of mothers, into the labor force. According to statistics compiled by the Statistics Department of Malaysia (1970, 1980, 1991 & 2003) and Malaysia 2006, about 30.8 percent of women make-up the labor force in 1970. The percentage started to increase to 35.1 percent in 1980, decreased slightly to 33.5 percent in 1991and increased to 36.7 percent in 2005. As for the male labor force, the pattern was the same, whereby the rate was 69.2 percent in 1970, decreased to 64.9 percent in 1980, increased again to 67.9 percent in 1991, but dropped to 63.3 percent in 2005. The demographic shifts have resulted from the economic changes that requires most families to have two incomes for economic viability and from the women’s desire to have both an active and fulfilling family life as well as a career. Men have begun to do slightly more household and childcare tasks as women are involved in employment. This article will highlight the strategies to sustain the dual earner in the workplace.

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