Norashikin (third from left) with (from sixth left) Deputy Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Aiman Athirah Sabu, Anfaal and MPAJ president Dr Ani Ahmad during the aid presentation ceremony at the Selangor Women’s Day celebration held in conjunction with MPAJ Community Day. — WILLIAM GARY/The Star
Exco member proposes that MamaKerja incentive be included in next year’s budget
THE MamaKerja incentive to help working mothers with childcare expenses may be included in the 2025 state budget, says Selangor women, family empowerment, welfare and care economy committee chairman Anfaal Saari.
It offered a one-off payment of RM1,000 and received 5,595 applications from working mothers as of March 2023. Out of that number, 3,850 mothers received the aid.
“Due to the favourable response, I will propose to Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari that the MamaKerja incentive be offered annually,” said Anfaal.
She was speaking at the state-level Women’s Day event at the MPAJ field in Pandan Indah.
In her speech, Anfaal noted that the percentage of working women in Selangor stood at 69.9%, compared to 83.5% for men, according to the Labour Force Participaton Survey 2022 by the Statistics Department of Malaysia.
As such, measures were needed to encourage more women to enter the workforce, she said.
According to the MamaKerja 2023 survey conducted by the state government through the Selangkah app, one of the main reasons women did not join the workforce was family responsibilities which included childcare.
“A total of 13% said inflexible working hours made it difficult for them to hold on to a job and meet their family’s needs at the same time,” said Anfaal.
“Another 13% said they wanted to emphasise quality care and safety of their children.
“The percentage of Selangor women who are unpaid family workers was also the highest in Malaysia at 20.7%.
“These are individuals who work in businesses, enterprises and farms run by their families,” she added.
As for those who are in the workforce, 61% cited the high cost of childcare services as a major challenge.
Anfaal said Selangor would improve the quality of care centre services, especially those which are not registered and operated from home.
“Through the nursery rating programme, the state government will provide screening and training for caregivers and workers, develop care service guidelines, and provide ratings for service providers involved.
“Mindful of the challenges faced by nursery operators in terms of registration, planning permission and renovation, the state government is planning to implement a matching grant programme as an incentive for them to register their businesses,” she added.
On the setting up of creches in workplaces, Anfaal said according to Persatuan Taska Negeri Selangor, there is a high demand for such facilities in Hulu Langat, Petaling and Gombak districts.
At the Women’s Day event, 10 mothers were presented with MamaKerja financial aid.
Among them was Norashikin Tamiza, 37, a mother of six.
Her husband Mohd Shahrul Jema’en, 36, expressed gratitude for the RM1,000 aid.
“My wife, who is with a travel agency, has always worked outside the home,” said the supervisor of a cooking oil factory.
“With combined incomes, we can provide a better quality of life for our family.
“If she had been a housewife, my financial responsibilities would have been heavier.”
The programme was organised by Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ) with Selangor women and family development permanent committee and Wanita Berdaya Selangor, a subsidiary of Menteri Besar Incorporated.
