MELAKA: The government’s move to provide a conducive environment for the set up of affordable childcare centres through the Care-Economy initiative will be able to help housewives, especially single mothers to re-enter the workforce.
In facilitating the licencing of unregistered nurseries and childcare centres nationwide, the initiative is seen to be able to address systemic issues such as unpaid care work, gender discrimination and family support policies.
Melaka Single Mothers’ Association chairman Banun Mat Lazim said housewives, especially those being widowed at a young age, face various challenges and are often at a loss on whether they should go out to work or stay home to look after their children.
“If they choose to stay home to take care of their children, they will not be able to earn a regular income forcing them to seek the help of the related government agencies or parties.
As such, Banun said the government’s initiative to introduce affordable childcare centres will ease the burden of those who are struggling to cope after the death of a spouse or household head.
“The children of these single mothers will be in a safer place when their mother goes out to work to provide for their family and the mothers will also feel more at ease with this situation.
“This is a great initiative launched by the government to help the needy, thus encouraging and increasing women’s independence and participation in the labour force ,” she said.
Meanwhile, State Women’s Affairs, Family Development and Welfare Committee chairman Datuk Kalsom Nordin said as many as 18 nurseries operating in the state are undergoing the legalisation process to meet the operational requirements.
Among the criteria set was to comply with the conditions outlined by the Social Welfare Department (JKM), the Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM), the state Health Department and the local authorities (PBT).
“JBPM, the Health Department and local authorities will conduct a comprehensive inspection especially on the safety and hygiene aspects at the premises,” she said.
Meanwhile, National Council of Women’s Organisations (NCWO) president Prof Emerita Tan Sri Dr Sharifah Hapsah Syed Hasan said the organisation is pleased with the emphasis on the Care Economy and social protection aspects which could help in reducing the unpaid burden of care which inordinately falls on the shoulders of women, and most often was the reason for them not remaining in the labour force.
“The demand for services in child care, elder care, care for people with disabilities, care for children with special needs, in particular autism which is on the rise, mental health, personal social and domestic services is increasing with the ageing population and migration of young people away from home.
“Public spending on long term care against gross domestic product would not be sustainable if the burden of care is not shared with the non-governmental sector and private enterprises,” she said.
She said NCWO is committed to promoting the growth of the Care Economy nationwide which has the potential to attract investments, create jobs, especially for B40, women and youths, decrease our dependency on low skilled foreign workers, increase productivity through technology adoption and work-life balance and most importantly attract and retain women in the workforce.
Earlier, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim at the launch of the ‘MADANI Economy: Empowering the People’ initiative, announced an allocation of RM10 million to streamline the registration process and expand the childcare centre and nursery whitelisting programme nationwide to encourage mothers to return to work. – Bernama
