MELAKA: The government's move to provide a conducive environment for the setting up of affordable childcare centres through the Care-Economy initiative will help housewives, especially single mothers, to re-enter the workforce.
In facilitating the licensing of unregistered nurseries and childcare centres nationwide, the initiative could 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 widowed at a young age, faced various challenges and were 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 depend on related government agencies or parties to make ends meet.
"However, if they are employed, they will still need to bear the expensive fees for childcare, and this would be burdensome if they have two or more children" she said yesterday.
As such, Banun said the government's initiative to introduce affordable childcare centres would ease the burden of those struggling to cope after the death of a spouse or breadwinner.
"The children will be in a safer place when their mother goes out to work, and the mothers will also feel more at ease.
"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.
State Women's Affairs, Family Development and Welfare Committee chairman Datuk Kalsom Nordin said as many as 18 nurseries in the state were undergoing the legalisation process.
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 local authorities (PBT).
"JBPM, the Health Department and local authorities will conduct a comprehensive inspection, especially on the safety and hygiene of the premises," she said.
National Council of Women's Organisations (NCWO) president Professor Emerita Tan Sri Dr Sharifah Hapsah Syed Hasan said the organisation was pleased with the emphasis on Care Economy and social protection, which could help in reducing the unpaid burden of care, which inordinately fell on women.
"The demand for services in childcare, elderly 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 NCWO was committed to promoting the growth of the Care Economy nationwide, which had the potential to attract investments and create jobs, especially for the B40 group, women and youths, thus reducing the dependency on low-skilled foreign workers. Bernama