
A Closer Look: Female Directorship in Asia in 2023
โAs of 2023, the representation of women in directorship positions in Asia remains relatively low. According to a report by the Diversity Action Committee (DAC) in Singapore, women held only 13.3% of board seats in Singapore's top 100 listed companies as of 2021. In Malaysia, the percentage of women on boards stood at 26.2% as of 2020, according to a report by the Malaysian Alliance of Corporate Directors. In Japan, women held only 17.1% of board seats in listed companies as of 2020, according to the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry.
Despite these numbers, there have been some positive developments in recent years. In Singapore, the DAC introduced the Code of Governance for Diversity and Inclusion in 2019, which calls for greater diversity on corporate boards. In Malaysia, the Securities Commission Malaysia introduced a target of 30% women on boards by 2020, which was achieved by 2021. In Japan, the government introduced a target of 30% women on boards by 2020, and while this target was not achieved, the percentage of women on boards has been steadily increasing in recent years.