Regulatory policies, laws, programs, and plans supporting women entrepreneurs in ASEAN countries

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Abstract

In recent decades, Southeast Asia has maintained a strong economic growth trajectory and led to financial benefits for women and improved their participation in the labor market. The future for women in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) looks promising in terms of employment and entrepreneurship (Han, 2022). In Vietnam, around 21 percent of incorporated enterprises are women-owned (World Bank, 2017). The study aimed to compare Vietnam’s structured approaches to gender equality with those of other ASEAN nations. Utilizing document analysis of relevant legal texts and policy documents in Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Singapore, the study identified significant disparities in legal provisions and their implementation. Findings indicated that while Vietnam establishes comprehensive support mechanisms, challenges in enforcement hinder real assistance for women entrepreneurs, which exhibit both similarities and differences compared to other ASEAN countries, highlighting varied levels of prioritization and legal provisions. Enhanced regional policy alignment and effective implementation are critical for fostering a favorable environment for female entrepreneurship. The findings contributed valuable insights into the role of legal frameworks in promoting gender equality, providing recommendations for policy improvement and regional collaboration that can drive economic growth and empower women across Southeast Asia.

Keywords: ASEAN Countries, Gender Equality, Women Entrepreneurs

Authors’ individual contribution: The Author is responsible for all the contributions to the paper according to CRediT (Contributor Roles Taxonomy) standards.

Declaration of conflicting interests: The Author declares that there is no conflict of interest.

JEL Classification: J16, K0, K2, K4, P00, Z00

Received: 20.12.2024
Revised: 17.03.2025; 05.05.2025
Accepted: 19.05.2025
Published online: 21.05.2025

How to cite this paper: Quyen, T. T. (2025). Regulatory policies, laws, programs, and plans supporting women entrepreneurs in ASEAN countries. Corporate Law & Governance Review, 7(2), 94–102. https://doi.org/10.22495/clgrv7i2p10