KWASA DAMANSARA, 17 June 2025: YAB Prime Minister of Malaysia, Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim, today officiated the Employees Provident Fund’s (EPF) International Social Wellbeing Conference 2025 (ISWC 2025) alongside Minister of Finance II Senator Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan, EPF Chairman Tan Sri Mohd Zuki Ali, Chief Executive Officer Ahmad Zulqarnain Onn, Cabinet Ministers, senior government officials, and members of the EPF Board and Investment Panel.

Now in its 12th edition, this year’s conference is themed “Living to a Hundred: Are We Prepared?”, reflecting the growing urgency to address the implications of increased life expectancy on retirement, healthcare and the broader economy. ISWC 2025 explores how to navigate the new reality of extended lifespans by rethinking retirement and financial security; transforming ageing into an economic driver through innovation and workforce shift; shaping policies and strategies for a more resilient and sustainable future; and harnessing intergenerational collaboration to build a thriving and inclusive society. The two-day event brings together more than 850 in-person delegates and 730 virtual participants, with more than 20 partners across diverse industries, and 25 globally renowned speakers.

Jointly organised by the EPF, the Implementation Coordination Unit of the Prime Minister’s Department (ICU JPM), and the Ministry of Finance (MOF), ISWC 2025 aims to catalyse ideas and policies around the longevity economy, a transformative force that calls for rethinking how societies work, age, and thrive.

EPF Chairman Tan Sri Mohd Zuki Ali said, “ISWC 2025 aims to elevate the national conversation on longevity and ensure our ageing population is seen not as a challenge, but a catalyst for economic growth and social progress.” 

“Longer lives open new frontiers as the rise of the longevity economy, shaped by the contributions, consumption, and experience of older adults, is an opportunity for innovation. It extends beyond pensions and healthcare to encompass how we design cities, structure workforces, build inclusive technologies, and promote lifelong learning and active ageing,” he added.

As of 2024, 7.7% of Malaysians are aged 65 and above and this proportion is projected to reach 14% by 2043, marking Malaysia’s transition into an aged nation. This transition presents both challenges and opportunities to reshape Malaysia’s economic, healthcare, and social infrastructure to support longer, healthier lives. Policy enhancements and strategic interventions are key to preparing the younger generation for the challenges of longer life expectancy, empowering senior adults to lead meaningful and independent lives, and unlocking the contributions of all generations to drive national progress and build a more resilient, inclusive society.

To address this, the EPF is advancing pension system reforms and financial innovation. In December 2024, the EPF introduced the Retirement Income Adequacy (RIA) Framework, enabling members to assess their retirement readiness across three tiers: Basic, Adequate, and Enhanced. An inter-generational transfer feature, announced in Budget 2025, will allow members to allocate part of their savings to support their family members’ retirement. 

The EPF is also enhancing support for informal workers through its i-Saraan programme, which now offers a 20% government matching incentive, capped at RM500 annually and RM5,000 over a lifetime. In 2024, the number of voluntary contributors grew by 32% to 1.2 million. More than 800,000 or close to 70% of the contributors were individuals outside the formal labour force, comprising gig workers and others in informal employment, contributing a total of RM13.7 billion. Of these, more than 520,000 members had contributed to i-Saraan, with total contributions amounting to RM2.6 billion. 

“We recognise that retirement adequacy must be built on fair wages and inclusive participation. That’s why all GLICs, including the EPF, have adopted a living wage policy and we will continue to engage our investee companies to champion decent work as a foundation for long-term security,” said Tan Sri Mohd Zuki.

Advancing social wellbeing through Sustainability Commitments for future generations

In conjunction with the conference, the EPF will also unveil its Sustainability Commitments (Commitments), marking a bold progression in advancing the EPF’s unwavering drive to lead in sustainable investing and embedding environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles across every facet of its operations and investment strategies. Recognising that long-term retirement security must be grounded by sustainable considerations to ensure resilient growth, the Commitments articulate a principled and pragmatic approach centred around three sustainability pillars: Environmental Action; Social Impact; as well as Culture and Governance.

In support of the Commitments, the EPF has also undertaken a strategic refresh of its existing sustainable investment policies to reinforce its elevated ambitions and revised expectations of investee companies. The revised policies, namely the Sustainable Investment Policy, the Climate Change Policy, the Workers Wellbeing Policy and the Priority Sectors Policy, which were first introduced in 2022, as well as the Sustainable Investment Stewardship Policy, which was initially published in 2024, also reflect the EPF’s efforts to deepens its stewardship practices and refreshed alignment with national and global sustainability frameworks. 

The launch of the Sustainability Commitments reflects the EPF’s broader alignment with the MADANI Economy framework, particularly in supporting efforts to raise the standard of living and promote inclusive growth. The Commitments also align with Malaysia’s net zero aspirations and contributes to a more climate-resilient future for the nation. 

This year’s ISWC features leading global voices and thought leaders, including Fredrik Reinfeldt, former Prime Minister of Sweden; Guy Standing, founding member and honorary co-president of the Basic Income Earth Network; Haleh Nazeri, Lead in Longevity Economy at the World Economic Forum, and Tan Sri Jemilah Mahmood, Director of Sunway Centre for Planetary Health.

Beyond plenary sessions, ISWC 2025 also offers interactive experiences such as gamifications, EPF kiosks and partner booths from BNY, Principal Asset Management, Nomura Asset Management and Amundi. Visit www.iswc.kwsp.gov.my for more information.

Issued by
Editorial and Media Relations Unit
Corporate Affairs Department
17 June 2025