Family-Friendly Work Conditions and Participation in Paid Work among Malaysian Women

Abstract

Family-friendly work conditions (FFWCs) are designed to improve women’s engagement in paid employment. We conducted an online survey to assess the extent to which accessibility and use of eleven specificFFWCs were associated with paid work participation among Malaysian women with young children (N = 215). Availability of FFWCs was not associated with work participation. Utilisation of paid maternity leave was positively associated with work participation, after accounting for potential confounders. Future research is needed to confirm FFWCs impact on women’s work participation, in samples that adequately represent informally employed women and those who have left paid work.