KUCHING: Operators of private childcare centres and kindergartens Sarawak are advised to apply for the interest-free loan scheme for small and medium enterprises which was announced by the government under the second Sarawakku Sayang Assistance Package (BKSS 2.0) yesterday.
State Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development Minister Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah said the scheme announced by Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg, was meant to cover salary payment for staff.
“Today’s announcement on the interest-free loan was meant to be used to pay the salary of employees for six months and this will definitely provide a huge relief for the operators,” she told reporters via WhatsApp.
Prior to the announcement yesterday, she said these operators had been expressing their anxiety and concern about their operation since the enforcement of the movement control order (MCO).
“They professed that some parents had questioned the need for them to pay the monthly fees for the month of April when there is no service provided due to the closure of these institutions,” she said.
Fatimah said despite the closure of the childcare centres due to the MCO, the operators claimed that they still need to pay the salary of the teachers and assistant teachers, as well as contribute to their Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) which forms the bulk of their expenditure.
She hoped that the operators, their staff and parents would continue to be engaged in an objective discussion to find the best way to address their unresolved issues for a win-win situation.
“Taska (children nursery) and Tadika (kindergarten) are social enterprises and an important support system for working parents,” she said.
According to her, there are currently 746 private child nurseries and kindergartens registered in the state, which employed 2,903 teachers and 785 assistant teachers, with an enrolment of 32,572 children. – Bernama
