She said the women affected are those aged  between 35 and 39.

  Tan  said this in a speech read out at a function to distribute aid to 100 families in her constituency in Johor Baru recently.

  The speech was given by her personal assistant, Goh Teck Kuan, in Tan's absence.

  Tan said the federal government had set up childcare centres at government departments and agencies this year in a move to help working mothers  solve the problem of providing care for their young ones.

  "So far, there are 76 childcare centres set up at workplaces. Of this number, 60 are  at government departments and agencies, while the rest are set up by the private sector.

  "I appeal to the private sector in my constituency to emulate such a move. It will solve not only the problem of taking care of the young ones, but also ensure that women will continue to play their roles in the marketplace," she said.

  Tan said children should not be the stumbling block for women  to pursue their careers.

  She added that a high employment rate among women will assist in the government's transformation programme.