Women's Minister wants government to prioritise care economy

Investing in care industries (childcare, elder care, care for persons with disabilities and illness and health care, assistive technologies and infrastructure) will create job opportunities for both women and men and allow women to balance work and family life better so they can stay in the workforce, says Nancy. Photo: 123rf.com

The only way for Malaysia to ensure a 60% participation of women in its workforce – as outlined in the Madani economy framework – is to address the lopsided caregiving burden that women bear and recognise how this has been long and grossly underestimated.

Investing in and developing the country’s care economy, therefore, must be adopted as an important national agenda, says Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri, who adds that care work is the basis of the country’s economic development as well as its socio-economic structure.