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We referred to the letter written by Renu, Penang dated 30th June 2009, “Have More Day-Care Centres”.
The Department of Social Welfare (DSW) acknowledged the suggestions given by the writer on having more day-care centres to overcome the maid abuse issue.
The government encourages the establishment of day-care centres for children and also childcare centres in the work place by providing allocations for government agencies to set up work place based childcare centres. Public sector employees with household incomes of less than RM3,000 a month are given subsidies of RM180 a month per child below the age of 4 years. The government also provides tax deductions for private sector employers who provide childcare facilities at the work place for their employees.
To date, the DSW has set up 26 community based childcare centres for low income families, giving families with household incomes of less than RM2,000 a month in the urban areas and less than RM1,200 a month in the rural areas subsidies of RM180 a month per child below the age of 4 years.
To ensure quality childcare, all childcare centres have to be registered under the Child Care Centre Act 1984 (amendment 2007), and be open for inspection by the DSW. All child maid employed in childcare centres have to undergo the basic childcare course which is regulated and certified by the DSW.
In 2008, the Government provided an allocation of RM10 million for homemakers to be trained to set up home-based childcare centres.
Parents have the responsibility to ensure that the day-care centres and the childcare centres they put their children in are registered with the DSW.
Public Relations Officer
Department of Social Welfare
Siaran Akhbar : - Have More Day-Care Centres (The Star, 30 June 2009, page N36)
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