The wing’s chief Nurul Ezzati Azmi said the suggestion by law and institutional reform minister Azalina Othman Said ignores the economic realities facing young Malaysians and does little to solve underlying structural issues in the job market.
“Women are already facing systemic discrimination, wage gaps and limited promotion opportunities, particularly those who are married or have children.
“Extending the retirement age will only tighten an already constrained labour market,” she said in a statement.
Nurul Ezzati said the government should focus on addressing graduate unemployment and job-skills mismatches instead of policy shifts that do not solve core problems.
She cited a Khazanah Research Institute report, which said over a third of Malaysian graduates start their careers in fields unrelated to their academic qualifications and remain stuck in such roles.
Nurul Ezzati said this reflects the failure of the economy to generate quality jobs.
“Young women are often forced into low-paying or informal sector jobs not because they lack qualifications, but because the system fails to create room for their growth,” she said.
Nurul Ezzati also pointed to Malaysia’s youth unemployment rate in 2024, which remains high at 10.4% for those aged 15-24 and 6.2% for those aged 25-30.
“Isn’t this a strong enough signal for the government to prioritise job creation and wage reform instead?” she asked.
Nurul Ezzati called for the government to ensure any retirement age policy is based on thorough local consultation rather than comparisons with other countries.
“Young Malaysian women don’t need token gestures. We want equal opportunities and a fair future,” she said.
On Tuesday, Azalina proposed that the government study extending the retirement age to 65, saying many people remain active and capable well into their 60s.
She said the number of Malaysians aged over 60 is increasing, and many of them still appear youthful and energetic.
In 2014, Malaysia raised the retirement age to 60 for both the public and private sectors, up from 58 and 55 respectively. The move aimed to provide financial support for the elderly while promoting healthy and active ageing.