Daycare Facilities To Be Set Up At All Government Offices By 1 Jan

Starting from 1 January, children's daycare services will be set up at all government agencies, especially those that implement shift work.

According to a report by Malay Mail, Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister Hannah Yeoh said there are currently only 205 government offices and 52 under the private sector equipped with daycare facilities.

Following the recent case about a five-month-old boy who died in the hands of his babysitter, the newly-appointed deputy minister saw the urgent need for serious action to be taken.

The ministry will propose to improve the Child Act by strengthening the Child Registry to ensure that all sexual offences, mental health and related court or police records are covered.

They will also make sure that anyone who deals with children, including caretakers, teachers, school guards, school bus drivers and tuition teachers, is registered in the system.

This will reduce the risk of the children's safety and security from being compromised and ensure that children in Malaysia are protected.

In fact, providing childcare services in government agencies is not something new.

"The government issued a circular in 1989 calling on federal and state (public) services to provide daycare facilities," Yeoh said, as reported by the New Straits Times.

The private sector is also given a 10-year tax exemption on any expense spent on childcare facilities within the office premises.