By Kay del Rosario
Close to 50 companies have come onboard a new initiative to create a conducive environment with support systems to attract, retain and develop more women in the tech industry.
Spearheaded by SG Women in Tech (SGWiT) in collaboration with SGTech – the trade association for the tech industry in Singapore – the SGWiT Corporate Pledge was launched by Manpower Minister Josephine Teo.
Mrs Teo, who is also the patron of SGWiT, announced the initiative at the SG Women in Tech Webinar on 8 March 2021.
“We want our women to continue seizing opportunities to develop in the growing tech sector, especially as digitalisation advances sweep the world,” she said.
Coinciding with International Women’s Day, the SGWiT Corporate Pledge aims to encourage organisations to address the key motivators for young women to take up a tech career, and for women tech professionals to continue to grow and thrive in the tech industry.
Companies could, for example, set up a Women in Tech resource team in the organisation, provide mentorship, and organise networking activities.
Currently, only 30 per cent of the tech sector comprises women.
"Gender diversity is top of mind for SGTech. We are keenly aware of the gender imbalance in the tech industry.
“By actively creating workplaces that empower women to succeed, we are confident the representation of women in Singapore's tech workforce will increase rapidly over time," said SGTech Chairman Wong Wai Meng.
Some of the companies that have pledged their support include DBS, Singapore Airlines and Singtel.
