Visionary employers honoured for good work-life practices

THE Life at Work Awards Night (LAWA) 2023 hosted by Talent Corporation Malaysia Bhd (TalentCorp) makes a timely comeback with much glitz and glamour.

The event showcased visionary employers who have made remarkable strides in championing diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in their work-life practices.

On Wednesday night, 700 guests at M Resort and Hotel in Bukit Kiara, Kuala Lumpur, cheered and celebrated companies that included those from financial services, professional services, oil and gas, construction, manufacturing, global business services, healthcare, fast-moving consumer goods, retail, tourism and information technology during the awards ceremony.

LAWA, one of TalentCorp’s key transformative initiatives, had made an impact on businesses from 2013 to 2019 before taking a break for a couple of years due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

James (third from left) receiving the Overall Best Organisation award (International) from Sivakumar while Mathew (fifth from left) looks on.

The winners serve as inspirational benchmarks for organisations seeking to enhance their dedication to their employees and the broader workforce.

More than just accolades, LAWA presents an important way to promote workplace excellence and employee well-being, as it serves to shape the future of work.

TalentCorp Group chief executive officer Thomas Mathew said the LAWA initiative was the agency’s commitment to establishing an inclusive environment where all employees, regardless of their backgrounds, would not only prosper but also realise their full potential.

“Malaysian businesses are experiencing a growing imperative to embrace a DEI-First approach and reassess their corporate culture as Generation Z professionals enter the workforce,” he said.

Born after 1996, Gen Z individuals place more importance on cultivating an inclusive work environment, advancing in their careers and acquiring new skills, which is reshaping the landscape of the modern workplace.

Nora (fourth from left) receiving the Chief Human Resources Officer award from Mustapha.

“Companies must adopt a different approach to effectively engage Gen Z, Gen X and Baby Boomers in a collaborative professional setting for higher productivity,” he said.

Mathew said the organisation was committed to increasing female workforce participation through various initiatives.

“In line with sustainable development goals and the Madani economic target to increase our female workforce, we will introduce other initiatives such as childcare centres, flexible work arrangement workshops, women networking and mentoring programmes,” he added.

Captains of businesses were recognised for their outstanding achievements in employee engagement, diversity hiring, sustainability practices and leadership excellence that saw 30 awards spread across eight categories.

Maybank won awards for Overall Best Organisation for a Malaysian company and Outstanding Practice for Diversity Hiring, as well as individual award for their chief human resource officer Datuk Dr Nora Manaf.

(From left) The RuMa Hotel and Residences Human Resources director Mohamad Shaukhi Hashim, Shell Malaysia recruiter Dinesh Jayabalan, Selangor State Development Corporation (PKNS) Real Estate Sdn Bhd Human Capital head Diyana Ibrahim@Musa, Human Resources Ministry, Manpower Department deputy director-general Kamaruzaman Md Ali and CIMB Talent Acquisition manager Qasmal Noor having a chat at the event.

CIBA Vision Johor Sdn Bhd (Alcon) clinched awards for Overall Best Organisation award for an international company and Outstanding Practice for HR Digitalisation, and individual award for their chief executive officer, Dr James J. Govindasamy.

James said he was truly honoured and humbled to be recognised by TalentCorp in the Life at Work Awards 2023.

“I am blessed with an amazing work team family,” he added.

Meanwhile, Yayasan Pahang took home Overall Best Organisation award for public sector organisation, as well as individual awards for its chief human resource officer Datin Nor Aza Abdul Aziz.

Isyraq Akram from the foundation also won the Promising Young Human Resource award.

Nor Aza said winning the Life at Work Awards 2023 Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) category was a testament to Yayasan Pahang’s dedication to fostering positive workplaces and mentoring future leaders.

Pos Malaysia Bhd Group chief executive officer Charles Brewer (centre in suit) shares the momentous occasion of being named CEO Champion, with colleagues at LAWA Night 2023.

Human Resources Minister V. Sivakumar, his deputy Datuk Mustapha Sakmud and senior officials from various ministries and agencies attended the event.

Among the categories were Overall Best Organisation, Chief Executive Champion, CHRO Champion, Promising Young HR, Best Leadership Team, Sustainability and DEI, Women in the Workplace and HR-Digitalisation.

Mathew said TalentCorp’s vision for LAWA was for it to become a driving force behind positive workplace transformation in Malaysia.

The event was also an opportunity for attendees to network and foster a thriving business ecosystem.

Guests were treated to a sumptuous dinner accompanied by classic and contemporary songs by Hazel Leong and Friends, while stand-up comedian Gajen Nad got the crowd laughing with his jokes, and Aurora School of Dance presented a mix cultural performance.

TalentCorp is a Human Resources Ministry agency. It collaborates with ministries, agencies, training institutions and industry partners to enhance local talent development initiative, with the aim of building a talent pool prepared for the future.