SEPANG: Malaysia needs to have at least 38,333 registered creches to cater to children under the age of four.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said today that only 4,302 childcare centres were registered with the Welfare Department.
She said the government wanted to see more creches at workplaces.
“We want to have more childcare centres at workplaces that are registered, which fulfill all the requirements and are manned by qualified childcare workers,” she said.
“This is an issue which needs urgent attention. I hope more private institutions will start looking into setting up in-house creches.
“The government fully supports this initiative and provides tax exemptions for this purpose, which can be redeemed by employers based on the Feb 15, 1996, circular from the Inland Revenue Board, which include tax exemptions for renovations and maintenance of buildings for the setting up of creches.”
Earlier, Wan Azizah, who is also the Women, Family and Community Development Minister, launched AirAsia Bhd’s Taska Krista@RedQ childcare centre at its headquarters, here.
The 413sq m facility includes four classrooms, a nursing lounge, sick bay, child-sized toilets, dining area, pantry, drying room, administration office, indoor and outdoor play areas. It is equipped with developmentally-appropriate toys, learning aids and multimedia facilities.
Operated by Krista Education, an expert in early childhood education for over 22 years, the centre looks after the children of AirAsia staff, aged between 11 months and 6 years, for a minimal monthly fee.
AirAsia Group chief executive officer and AirAsia X Co-Group CEO Tan Sri Tony Fernandes said one of the airlines’ core values was putting people first — not just its customers, but its staff too.
He said AirAsia had wanted to set up the creche when it was based at the Low-Cost Carrier Terminal, but could not do so due to constraints.
“Since this (RedQ) building is ours, we can build it (the creche). If necessary, we may expand the facilities to other places.”
Fernandes said the creche had nearly 50 children and could accommodate 80. It operates between 7am and 7pm.
He said he believed that the creche and other facilities could boost staff productivity.
“We have such a fantastic workforce. We believe in doing what is right (for our staff) to keep them happy,” he said, adding the company had its own system to gauge the level of happiness among its staff.
He said AirAsia had also set up a rescue house for dogs and was now exploring the possibility of setting up a rescue house for cats.