As part of its corporate social responsibility (CSR), AmAssurance seeks to recruit 1,500 female insurance agents as a channel to women hit by the current recession wave. Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun. Deputy Minister of Women, Family and Community Development, at the launch of the campaign, quoted International Labour Organisation statistics, which state the 2008 unemployment rate for women was 6.3% compared to 5.9% for men.

The campaign, entitled “What Women Want”, will be promoted through nationwide road shows July to November 2009. Clement Heng, general manager, agency sales and training, life insurance division at AmLife Insurance Bhd, was reported to have said that the 1,500 new recruits will bring the current ratio of female agents to 50% of the total agency force or 5,000 agents, compared to the current 30%.

He was reported to have said, “We believe that the “What Women Want” campaign is another approach where companies through CSR, can assist a larger segment of society by offering them - in this case, women - long term and sustainable solutions through training and career opportunities.”