Increase in the number of women in early childhood centers

BUDGET 2019 | The creation of 50 additional childcare structures in public buildings is likely to increase by 30% the number of women employed as well as their productivity in the job market, said Congress Public and Civil Service Employees' Unions (Cuepacs) President Azih Muda (above).

He said the initiative was timely and conciliatory with the government's efforts to provide facilities for working mothers who fear leaving their children with babysitters for fear of their safety.

"The allocation of RM 10 million for the 50 additional day care centers announced in the 2019 budget is the best effort to help working mothers get closer and monitor their children.

"It's important because we do not want women's performance to be affected because of their concern for the safety of their children," he said when he was contacted by Bernama.

He said this in response to the 2019 budget presented by the Minister of Finance, Lim Guan Eng, which provided, inter alia, an allocation of RM 10 million for the creation of 50 additional day care centers to ease the burden of mothers who work, while continuing to encourage and encourage the private sector to achieve the same goal.

The current rate of women's participation in the labor market is only 53.5% in 2017, while 60% of women who are not in the labor market have stated that they choose not to work because of the burden. working from home.

Professor Emeritus Sharifah Habsah Syed Hashab Shahabudin, President Emeritus of the National Council of Women's Organizations (NCWO), also welcomed this decision, saying it was the best assistance for public sector employees.

"In addition to child care, the government should also look at the minimum wage, which is currently slowing down the operation of private day-care centers, especially for low-income people.

"Incentives should also be given to new and innovative efforts, such as" on-demand childcare "that uses a new business model with sophisticated technology," she added.

The president of the Women's Association for Development and Innovation (Wadi), Sukmamurni Abdul Manaf, also praised the initiative, which she said would significantly increase women's participation. to the job market.

"However, we hope that it will not be just having more childcare, it should provide the best service and a reasonable price," she added.

– Bernama