SHAH ALAM - Childcare remains a critical issue for working parents, with accessibility and affordability at the forefront of discussions.
Economist Dr Nungsari Ahmad Radhi said one of the significant challenges facing families today was the high cost of childcare.
To effectively tackle this issue, he advocated for the involvement of non-profit organisations (NGOs) and civil society organisations (CSOs) in providing accessible and affordable childcare solutions.
"One of the ways to manage it is to encourage NGOs and CSOs to be involved in this enterprise.
"The development of the third sector, the civil society to complement the public and private sectors is also a part of the Madani framework," he told Sinar Daily.
Nungsari pointed out that the Madani framework aimed to increase female labour force participation, which has been notably low.
"The 2025 Budget should allocate funding to support working and single mothers in any way," he added.
He emphasised that increasing female labour force participation was crucial for boosting household income levels and reducing the attrition of women from the workplace after motherhood.
Nungsari stressed the need for a comprehensive approach to childcare, urging increased access to affordable childcare options while also advocating for the professionalisation of the sector.
He suggested that, like nursing, childcare should have training and certification standards to make it both accessible and a recognised career path, enhancing the professionalism of providers.
Nungsari also highlighted the need for employers to receive incentives for facilitating childcare for their employees.
He said by offering benefits for childcare expenses or even establishing on-site childcare facilities, employers can help ease the financial burden on working parents.
"Employers should be able to enjoy deductions for expenses related to providing childcare for employees," he added.
A crucial part of the solution was in fostering the development of community-based childcare services through the third secto, he said.
He expressed a desire to see more community-based childcare initiatives developed by the third sector, highlighting that civil society can play a crucial role in supporting both public and private efforts to meet childcare needs.
Nungsari also pointed out that cultural factors heavily influence childcare dynamics in Malaysia, stating that societal expectations around women's roles in childcare often result in high attrition rates among working mothers.
He explained that although Malaysia has made significant strides in girls’ education, the responsibility of childcare still largely falls on women, pushing many out of the workforce.
Nungsari emphasised that society must acknowledge the economic value of childcare and recognise that its costs should not be solely shouldered by mothers.
"There needs to be a shift in values and societal norms. Childcare should not detract from a woman’s economic value; instead, we should enable women to balance both work and parenting responsibilities,"he said.
The 2025 Budget, the third under the unity government, will be tabled in Parliament on Friday (Oct 18).
The budget, themed "Ekonomi Madani, Negara Makmur, Rakyat Sejahtera" is the final budget under the 12th Malaysia Plan (2021-2025), paving the way for the upcoming 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) over the next five years.