Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development Ministry will organise a workshop to further deliberate on the post-natal incentives for Sarawakian mothers upon giving birth.
While lauding the 2020 State Budget tabled by Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg, its minister Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah said, “Details of how they will be implemented such as the applicants’ eligibility need to be looked and further discussed,” she told the media at the State Legislative Assembly building here yesterday.
In his budget announcement speech yesterday, Abang Johari announced a sum of RM18 million would be provided next year as post-natal incentives for mothers.
With a total funding of RM18 million, Fatimah said Sarawak Welfare Department would be the most accessible agency for distributing the incentives.
“Currently, we have 23 welfare departments at the district level and 12 at the divisional level,” she explained.
Starting from January 1 next year, each mother will receive RM450 in the form of vouchers to ease their financial burden upon giving birth.
“The RM450 will be given in a form of voucher and a total of RM150 worth of voucher will be disbursed within the three months.
“The mothers will receive a RM150 voucher for three months during their maternity leave,” said Fatimah.
She also revealed that her ministry had received a total of 21,283 applications for Endowment Fund Sarawak as of Oct 31 this year.
“As of Oct 31, Sarawak recorded a total of 30,151 newborn babies. Out of these, 28,152 are Sarawakians,” she added.
