KUALA LUMPUR: Selangor Dredging Bhd believes that workplace inclusiveness is key to corporate success within today’s changing business environment.
Selangor Dredging group managing director Teh Lip Kim said that half of its workforce today consists of women, with a majority of them holding senior positions within the company.
“Malaysia has made great progress in encouraging women into the boardroom and for them to assume senior positions,” said Teh, refererring to the government’s goal of having thirty percent of women in decision-making positions.
“Women bring a wider and more varied perspective to operations,” Teh told Business Times in an interview recently.
“Due to the various roles that women play in family and work-life balance, women are able to appreciate, understand and view things at many different levels.”
She emphasised, however, that selection of Board members should not be based on gender but on merit.
“Every board should be diverse not only in terms of gender but also in terms of experience and background of its members to allow for more dynamic meetings,” said Teh.
She also said that employers can also do their part by making things more convenient for women and to have work-life balance.
“This is especially so since many women today are still expected to take charge of their families and work as well due to today’s high cost of living,” said Teh.
“At Selangor Dredging we have several flexi work arrangements; for example, we have a four-day work week arrangement for several managers, together with flexi hour for our employees,” she further said.
“Our female workforce has helped make Selangor Dredging to be the respectable property developer it is today,” added Teh.
In a recent commentary, MIDF Research praised Selangor Dredging for its quality building materials and iconic green designs which help uplift its earnings.
“The impact on the construction of iconic and sustainable green design is sanguine as this positions the company into building lifestyle for buyers,” said the research house.
“Selangor Dredging's performance through the growth of its retained earnings proves that higher quality building materials can affect the bottom line in construction or property development positively,” it said.
The research house added that Selangor Dredging's track record notably shows a consistent ability to launch higher quality iconic homes despite the grim backdrop of sluggish property mart.
“For this volatile market condition, companies with strong business franchise, creative construction and development forte coupled with entrepreneurial acumen should be taken a hard-nosed look,” said the research house, adding that property developer has always been consistent in delivering a seven-year average return of earnings of 15.8 per cent.
MIDF Research believes that improvement in return of earnings indicates that Selangor Dredging's earnings are driven efficiently by sales despite cyclical blips.