Subsidised Nurseries

As reported by both the Star and NST on Friday, low income parents can soon send their young children to community childcare centres while they go to work for approximately RM100 per month.

The Prime Minister said the Government would provide a launching grant to set up the centres and subsidise the fees for urban families earning below RM2,000 a month and rural families earning below RM1,200.

As a start, a grant of RM1.19mil will go towards the setting up of 10 childcare centres, mostly in urban and semi-urban areas. Each centre can accommodate 30 children aged four and below. The monthly fees per child is RM280 but part of the grant will be used to subsidise RM180 for each child. This means eligible parents need to pay only RM100 per child.

“Non-governmental organisations and the local community will be responsible for managing the community childcare centres. To bear part of the costs, I urge the private sector to play a role and give appropriate financial support,” said Abdullah.

This is good news, particularly for young parents who don't live with their parents and who can't afford (or do not want to engage) a maid. I'm personally thinking of running a little nursery within my office, should there be sufficient demand for such services. After all, I realise that my staff are indeed getting older, many of them getting married recently and some awaiting their newborns' arrival soon. :) It'll be a noisy and boisterous office then. :)