KUALA LUMPUR: Barisan Nasional (BN) will implement Universal Child Care policy by developing curriculum with inclusive programmes and nutritious food guidelines.
Professional childcare personnel would also receive trainings to enhance their skills under the policy.
The manifesto which will be implemented in the next five years if BN wins the 14th General Election (GE14) had lined up another seven initiatives under the policy.
BN will also raise the nutrition level of children aged from six months to six years old in hardcore poor families.
To assist young parents secure a bright future for their newborns, BN promises to increase the number of unit trust for Malaysian Children’s Trust Fund 2050 (ADAM50).
There is also good news for employers who provide childcare facilities at workplace as BN will offer special incentives such as tax exemptions.
Incentives would also be given to companies that provide childcare centres and facilities for breastfeeding mothers.
It has also promised that male public sector employees would be given 10 days unrecorded leave when their spouses give birth.
To accommodate working mothers, BN would also allocate seven days of special leave per year for women who are caregivers to their children or immediate relatives who are ill.
FELDA settlers are not left forgotten as BN would establish one-stop centres that include childcare centres and entrepreneur centres for FELDA settlers, in all FELDA settlements that are administered by the Confederation of Women FELDA Settlers Malaysia.
Following are the key points under the Universal Child Care thrust.
• Implementing a Universal Child Care policy by developing a curriculum, inclusive programmes and nutritious food guidelines, besides training professional childcare
personnel.
• Encouraging employers to provide childcare facilities by offering special incentives such as tax exemptions.
• Encouraging the private sector to allow pregnant mothers to leave work an hour early.
• Adapting the flexible work hour scheme for mothers with children aged 2 and below.
• Providing incentives to companies that provide childcare centres and facilities for breastfeeding mothers.
• Permitting male public sector employees to take 10 days unrecorded leave when their spouses give birth.
• Allocating 7 days of special leave per year for women who are caregivers to their children or immediate relatives who are ill.
• Establishing one-stop centres that include childcare centres and entrepreneur centres for FELDA settlers, in all FELDA settlements, that is administered by the Confederation of Women FELDA Settlers Malaysia.
• Increasing the number of unit trust for Malaysian Children’s Trust Fund 2050 (ADAM50) recipients to help young parents ensure a bright future for their newborns.
• Raising the nutrition level of children aged from 6 months to 6 years old in hardcore poor families.