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outsmarting their male counterparts not only in the social
sciences and the humanities but also in the hard sciences,
including the engineering sciences. The contemporary
phenomenon of female students dominating the gradua-
tion list is likely to have far-reaching effects on the gender
equation in the employment pattern. Likewise, in many
universities in the region, female academics of all ranks
are now of comparable numerical strength if not already
outnumbering their male counterparts, at least in some of
the fields of specialization.
Women in the modern workforce
According to Brunei Darussalam’s 2011 population census,
women constituted 48.4 per cent of the population. Statistics
show that the participation of women in the national work-
force is increasing at a fast rate. Already the employment
of women in the civil service, the largest employer in the
country, reflects their demographic strength.
The
Global Gender Gap Report 2015
, published by the
World Economic Forum, reported that Brunei has moved
up by 10 places from its 2014 position, with an improved
economic participation and opportunity score due to more
female legislators, senior officials and managers as well as
female professional and technical workers. The civil service
witnessed the appointment of women as permanent secre-
taries, deputy permanent secretaries, directors-general,
directors and deputy directors. Such appointments are in
line with the Brunei National Development Plan 2007-2012
which stresses the need to enhance a more active participa-
tion of women in national development by providing them
with the opportunity to hold higher positions in the public
and private sectors, including at the level of policymakers
and legislators.
The Brunei Government of His Majesty has taken a
giant step towards giving women equal rights in govern-
ment services. Such a significant step has helped to remove
misunderstanding about the ideas of segregation and
women’s inequality in leadership, as it enables access and
opportunities for emerging leaders are made equal for both
men and women. Service of married civil service women
who were previously employed on a month-to-month
basis is made permanent, thus giving them greater access
to benefits, privileges and entitlements such as education
allowances for their children, higher rates of travel allow-
ance and qualifying for government housing, Employee
Trust Fund and Supplemental Contributory Pension, a
plan which includes a survivorship protection clause and
benefits on reaching retirement age.
Brunei’s Moral Pillars and Work Ethics of the Civil Service
are an essential work ethics framework based on universal
Islamic values. Male and female civil servants cohesively
strive to produce good quality service through common
Image: Attorney General’s Chamber
Brunei Darussalam’s current Attorney General, Datin Seri Paduka Hajah Hayati binti POKSDSP Haji Salleh
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