IWD 2022: Breaking The Gender Bias Together

09/03/2022, Corporate Communications

#BreakTheBias together to ensure a more inclusive and gender-equal workplace (File pic by IOI Corporation).

Each year, 8 March is marked as a special day for women. It is the day that celebrates the social, political and economic achievements of women worldwide. In conjunction with 2022’s International Women’s Day (IWD) celebration, IOI Corporation Berhad (IOI) has reaffirmed its pledge to champion women’s rights, raise awareness and support greater gender equality at its workplace and the community in which it operates.

The drive for women’s equality is aptly reflected in this year’s IWD #BreakTheBias theme. As part of our Group’s commitment to further empower our woman colleagues and their daughters, we strive to address the stereotype, bias and prejudice that are affecting them and the challenges they are facing.

At IOI headquarters, Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Dato’ Lee Yeow Chor witnessed the Group-level IWD celebration, which was also attended by IOI’s two Independent Non-Executive Directors, Dr Nesadurai Kalanithi and Dato’ Kong Sooi Lin as well as IOI Foundation (formerly known as Yayasan Tan Sri Lee Shin Cheng) Executive Director, Datin Joanne Wong.

The physical participants at IOI headquarters during the launching of the Group-level IWD celebration. (Front row, seated from left) Dr Nesadurai, Dato’ Lee, Dato’ Kong and Datin Joanne (File pic by IOI Corporation).

In his speech, Dato’ Lee remarked that IOI has already exceeded the standard nationwide benchmark, where it currently has three women Directors as its Board Members, which represent 38% of our Board composition.

During the hybrid IWD event, over 500 physical and virtual participants from IOI’s headquarters to the plantation, oleochemicals and refinery divisions participated in a series of activities including live performances, video presentations and sharing of testimonials. These events took place concurrently at IOI headquarters and in our regional plantation, oleochemicals and refinery offices, which have also organised various on-site activities such as make-up classes, cooking demonstration as well as health screening.

As part of the IWD celebration, we have also introduced a social initiative related to our Climate Change Action initiative ("CCAi") called “Women and Digitalisation” in order to encourage our women employees, especially those who are based in the estates to embrace the digital revolution that brings immense potential to improve their social and economic well-being. With digital literacy, they can conduct various online transactions (including online banking and purchases amongst others) securely from the safety of their homes.

For this year's IWD celebration, we have invited all IOI employees to show their support and solidarity for women’s equality and empowerment by submitting their most creative photographs while crossing their arms with the #BreakTheBias sign. Last but not least, the inaugural IOI Wonder Woman 2022 award was presented to the winner who received the most votes.

IOI is committed to a world that is free of bias, stereotypes and discrimination. In line with this year’s IWD celebration, we are doubling our effort to embrace equality at our workplace and the community in which we operate. By working together, we can forge women's equality, and collectively we can all #BreakTheBias.