GOVERMENT MAKING LIFE EASIER FOR PARENTS

The Government has prepared several childcare alternatives to overcome the problems of untrained babysitters and childminders.
Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minis-ter Datuk Noriah Kasnon said among the incentives were opening more child nurseries registered with the Social Welfare Department (JKM) and childcare fee subsidy for parents.

“So far, 2,058 child nurseries registered under JKM, as well as 46 1Malaysia nurseries, are prepared to offer their services to parents across the country,” she said.
Noriah’s statement came in response to the recent incident where an Indonesian maid was sentenced to 20 years’ jail after pleading guilty to abusing four-month-old Mohamed Hareez Zamri in Kuantan, Pahang.

She said the opening of new child nurseries had also been made easy because the nurseries did not need prior verification from any technical agency as long as they met the minimum standards set by the JKM.

Apart from that, Noriah said a grant of RM10,000 would also be made available for the child nursery operator, employer and parents interested in opening a new private child nursery of high quality in their areas.

“Five-year tax exemption and industrial building allowance at the rate of 10% a year will also be given to private child nursery operators. The operator and staff of child nurseries attending the Permata Childcare and Early Education Course will also be given intensive training and fee subsidy of RM180,” she added.
For the public sector, Noriah said the Government would also provide an allocation of RM200,000 to any ministry and department to set up a child nursery for their staff.

“A monthly fee subsidy of RM180 will also be given to parents working in the public sector and earning below RM3,000 to send their children to the nursery at their workplace.

“Double tax reduction on the allowance and subsidy will be given to workers as well as on the nursery maintenance expenditure borne by employer. Nursery owners will also get 10-year tax exemption on the construction of building to open the nursery,” she said.

For operators of 1Malaysia Nursery, Noriah said they would receive an establishment grant of RM56,000 and operation grant of RM64,000.

“A childcare fee subsidy of RM180 for each child sent to 1Malaysia Nursery will also be given to families earning below RM2,000 in urban areas and RM1,500 in rural areas,” she said, adding that all complaints on child abuse could be made by contacting Nur hotline at 15999