PETALING JAYA: There should be a robust care industry covering both children and senior citizens, in addition to other initiatives, to encourage women’s participation in the labour market, say experts.
However, there is also rising concern that a higher rate of female participation in the labour market would contribute to the declining fertility rate, which would eventually lead to an ageing population.
Universiti Putra Malaysia’s Malaysian Research Institute on Ageing (MyAgeing) senior research officer Chai Sen Tyng said while there has been growth in women’s labour participation over the years, most do not return after bearing a child.
“If we examine the female labour force participation rate at different ages over time, we should see a pattern that more women are joining the labour force.
“However, we don’t see a lot of women who leave the workforce rejoining the labour market in big numbers,” he said.
Chai said more well-regulated care centres will address both the issue of an ageing population as well as that of female labour participation.
He also said the government must ensure that childcare facilities are affordable and accessible regardless of financial status.
“The commodification of care might be inevitable, but we have to make sure the care economy is for all, not just the few who can afford commercialised rates,” he added.
The public must also be confident in these care centres, he added.
“There must be strong regulations and oversight mechanisms to ensure minimum standards,” said Chai.
“The press has reported enough stories of child and elderly abuse in care centres. This is a real issue and the government needs to play a serious role.”
The Women, Family and Community Development Ministry celebrated the national-level Senior Citizens Day yesterday.
The government, under the ministry, is starting initiatives aimed at increasing the female labour force participation from the current 56.2% to a targeted 60%, said minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri.
She said the goal will be achieved through a three-point strategy that includes the enhancement of policies and laws pertaining to women in the workforce.
All Women’s Action Society (Awam) senior admin and operations officer Lochna Menon said the burden of unpaid care work on women should be urgently addressed.
She said this issue has disempowered women economically, socially and politically.
“The government must look into alternatives and stop placing the burden of unpaid care work on women.
“Many times, these women who spend their lives caring for the elderly, end up not being taken care of in their old age, especially if they are unmarried or without children.
“Aside from depriving the nation of the talent and potential contribution of women to the economy, and prescribing care work to women who may not be suited or trained for the role, depending on unpaid care by women is not only not ideal, it is not a viable long-term solution,” she told The Star.
Lochna said to deal with the ageing population in Malaysia, the government must prepare more initiatives in geriatrics, healthcare and other types of care, including mental health and support services, especially for caregivers.
“Public homes and mobile clinics for the elderly, increasing and regulating independent nurses and carers, procuring sufficient medicine and medical equipment, making care more affordable, providing assistance to caregivers, especially in terms of mental health, are some of the most crucial steps that are needed.
“Other long-term strategies may include increasing medical scholarships in order to boost the pool of doctors in the country in the near future,” she added.
Lochna also said that women should be represented at various decision-making levels as they have been playing their role in elderly care.
“If the government is able to support women and caregivers in carrying out their care work, that would be an amazing achievement.
“However, this needs to be accompanied by public education campaigns to teach men to shoulder care work too so that the burden of care is not wholly placed on women, caregivers or social workers,” she added.
National Association of Human Resources Malaysia president Zarina Ismail said the government should also consider extending childcare subsidies to the private sector.
She said this would encourage more women to rejoin the labour force after giving birth.
“The government has given subsidies of RM180 to each child sent to a registered childcare centre for civil servants whose salary ranges between RM5,000 and RM7,000.
“Maybe it can also be given to the private sector too.
“It just needs a mechanism on how the aid is distributed,” she added.
Zarina also said the government should introduce more initiatives through existing policies that would attract greater female participation.
She said there is still gender-based discrimination in the workplace that could be keeping women away.
