The LIFE AT WORK Awards (LAWA) 2025 marked its 10th anniversary by recognising organisations that have set new benchmarks in workplace inclusivity, flexibility and sustainability.
Hosted by Talent Corporation Malaysia Bhd (TalentCorp) under the Ministry of Human Resources (KESUMA), the event carried the theme “Driving Inclusivity, Powering Sustainability.”
Minister of Human Resources Steven Sim Chee Keong said the Awards embody Malaysia’s MADANI vision, where national progress is measured not only by profit but by purpose. “The real measure of progress is not how high our GDP climbs, but how far our humanity reaches,” he said.
He noted that recent government initiatives, including the legal right to request flexible work arrangements and expanded tax incentives for family-friendly policies, have contributed to narrowing Malaysia’s gender pay gap from RM211 in 2023 to RM18 in 2025.
Malaysia’s standing in the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report 2025 also improved to 108th out of 146 countries, while the nation ranked 23rd in the World Competitiveness Index and 25th in the IMD World Talent Ranking.
“Inclusivity and flexibility are no longer optional — they are the new competitive advantage,” Sim added.
TalentCorp Chairperson Wong Shu Qi said more than 900,000 Malaysians have benefited from inclusive and flexible work practices since the Awards began. “Behind every submission lies a story of innovation, inclusion and leadership — of mothers returning to work, of managers learning to lead differently, and of teams proving that compassion and performance can coexist,” she said.
This year’s edition saw 266 organisations submitting 719 entries across 13 categories, a 33% increase from 2024. New categories included Future-Ready University & College, Future-Ready School and Changemakers.
Among the 33 winners, top honours went to:
- Mercedes-Benz Malaysia – Best International Organisation
- Sunway Group – Best Public Listed Company
- Pelabuhan Tanjung Pelepas – Best Private Limited Company
- Bank Negara Malaysia – Best Public Sector Organisation
- Q3 Management Solutions – Best SME
CEO Champion awards were presented to Ng Wei Wei (UOB Malaysia), Dato’ Chu Jenn Weng (ViTrox), Datuk Wira (Dr) Ameer Ali Mydin (MYDIN), Dato’ Mohammad Faiz Mohammad Azmi (Securities Commission Malaysia) and Dr Thomas Ong (NanoTextile).
The LIFE AT WORK Awards 2025 reaffirm Malaysia’s commitment to fostering a work culture that balances economic growth with social equity under the MADANI Economy Framework.
“These organisations prove that compassion is not the opposite of performance, but the foundation of it,” said Sim. “By giving dignity, we gain excellence.”
