KUCHING, Feb 2: Minister of Women, Childhood, and Community Wellbeing Development, Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah, has disclosed that the childcare centre known as ‘taska’, at Bangunan Baitul Makmur II in Petra Jaya is slated to commence operations in May 2024.
Fatimah emphasised that such workplace childcare centres aim to support working parents across various industries by providing a safe environment for their young children.
“It’s crucial for buildings like Bangunan Baitul Makmur II, housing numerous working employees, to include such facilities from the planning stage. This ensures accessibility and convenience for the employees and surrounding communities,” she explained.
Fatimah made these remarks during a press briefing following a courtesy call from executive committee members of Progressive Democratic Party Women Wings and Social Welfare Council Sarawak at her ministry.
She outlined the procedures for utilising the childcare centre indicating that a working mother can enroll her child after the completion of the maternity period.
Government assistance is available for parents opting for private childcare services, including those provided by private companies within buildings like Bangunan Baitul Makmur II.
“Households with incomes of RM7,000 and below are eligible for an annual assistance of RM1,000. Any additional costs beyond this subsidy must be borne by the parents,” she clarified.
Fatimah stressed the importance of selecting registered childcare centers for safety reasons, highlighting the standard operating procedure of maintaining a ratio of one teacher to two toddlers, with adjustments as children grow older.
“Ensuring a safe and nurturing environment for children is paramount, and adhering to proper ratios guarantees adequate supervision and care,” she concluded. — DayakDaily
