Women’s knowledge-sharing register planned

Members of a recently-formed initiative in Singapore are pushing for the introduction of a women’s register, which they hope will encourage females in the area to network and share knowledge to improve their quality of life.

The register is one of several recommendations from a collaboration of six workgroups that are studying the concerns and challenges faced by Singaporean women. It will provide a database of up and coming and established business women.

Nominations for entries will be called from various organisations to allow a wide spectrum of skills and knowledge.

The creation of a central information repository that women will be able to tap into for business ideas, advice and contacts has also been discussed, along with the introduction of a mentoring programme where experienced female leaders could advise younger women in aspects of business and society.

Representatives from the workgroups, which are backed by the Singapore Council of Women’s Organisations, NTUC Women’s Committee and the PA Women’s Integration Network, discussed the plans at a recent women’s seminar.

The minister of state for community development, youth and sports, Yu-Foo Yee Shoon attended the event and showed her support for the recommendations, saying that women should be encouraged to collaborate and establish themselves in Singaporean society. She highlighted the need for all knowledge and business resources to be fully exploited so that women could actively contribute to Singapore’s future success.

“Women in Singapore have a bright and challenging future,” she said. “But, the constant refrain I’ve had from dialogue sessions and meetings with women’s groups during the past year is that there are valuable, untapped resources, such as talents and ideas that women can share for the well-being of other citizens and themselves.”

The workgroups will consolidate all of the recommendations for implementation by stakeholders and agencies in the people, private and public sectors.

The register itself could be fully operational within the next nine months.