CHILDCARE at the workplace is indeed a very important matter, especially for working parents.
State executive councillor for Women and Family Development, Gender Equality and Religion other than Islam, Chong Eng said the biggest challenge for parents nowadays is where to send their kids when they go to work.
“The state government has long realised the importance of childcare facilities at the workplace,” Chong Eng said when she officiated the Industry Dialogue: ‘Childcare at Workplace: A Business Imperative’ held at Vistana Hotel in Bayan Baru.
“In 2013, the Taska D’Komtar was established to provide childcare facility for government staff.
“In addition to that, under Penang2030 vision for a family focus, green and smart state that inspires the nation, the Tadika WhyteHouse@Penang Tech Dome will be open next month to cater to the needs of government staff and the general public.”
She said Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng had announced on Sept 28 that Budget 2020 would focus on boosting women’s participation in the nation’s workforce from the current 56%.
“We are excited and look forward to what lies ahead. There are 35% of women leaving the workforce due to the issue of childcare.
“What worries us more is the consequence of this matter. When Malaysian women leave the workforce, they are not inclined to return back to work,” Chong Eng added.
Also present were Human Resource Ministry deputy secretary-general Datuk Muhd Khair Mohamede Annuar, Talent Corporation Malaysia Berhad deputy chief executive officer Sivakumeran A. Narayanan and Penang Women Development Corporation chief executive officer Ong Bee Leng.
Sivakumeren said as the government agency driving Malaysia’s talent strategy, Talent Corp recognises the importance of strengthening the Malaysian workforce to better navigate challenges and opportunities available.
“I urge employers to seriously consider evolving their human resource strategies to incorporate work-life practices, particularly those with a broader reach such as telecommuting, family care leave, and childcare centres, which have consistently been proven to not only support employee work-life balance but also improve bottom lines for businesses.
Story by Danny Ooi
Pix by Ahmad Adil Muhammad