More centres needed

The Government aims to have a workforce comprising at least 59% of women by 2020. To do that, we must have more registered childcare centres to cater to these women’s children, Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Rohani Abdul Karim said. On Aug 14, Sunday Star reported that Malaysia is far from its target of having 13,200 registered childcare centres by 2020. Currently, there are not enough centres to cater to 3.2 million children under the age of four whose parents are in need of these services.

Number of registered childcare centres nationwide:

5,421

Number of children:

53,497

Number of educators:

17,954

Source: National Child Development Research Centre

Is your childcare centre legal?

To locate licensed childcare centres, report incidents/abuse, join local community-building events and source for early childhood care/ education information, go to asuhan.my. The newly launched central directory and resource platform set up by the Association of Registered Childcare Providers Malaysia and the National Child Development Research Centre is aimed at keeping kids safe.

IN THE RED

Perak

Total private centres surveyed: 14

Income:

RM1,840 to RM9,150

Expenditure:

RM2,740 to RM9,630

Pahang

Total private centres surveyed: 203

Forced to close after paying minimum wage:

36 or 17.8%

Not paying minimum wage:

142 or 69%

Paid minimum wage and either made a small profit or loss:

25 or 12.3%

Terengganu

Total private centres surveyed: 36

Forced to close to avoid fine for failing to pay minimum wage: 95%

Babies and children affected: 2,515

Childcare staff made jobless: 736

Income:

RM1,540 to RM11,000

Expenditure:

RM2,260 to RM17,615

Kedah

Total private centres surveyed: 58

Fee range (babies to age four):

RM220 to RM300

Home

Total income:

RM2,850

Total costs (ie, salary, EPF, Perkeso, food, rental, utilities and telephone bills, Internet bill, cleaning/household items, learning tools, stationery, activities, celebrations, emergency fund, income tax, GST):

RM3,830

Losses: RM980

Institution

Total income:

RM7,800 to RM25,200 (depending on location)

Total costs (ie: salary, EPF, Perkeso, food, rental, utilities and telephone bills, Internet bill, cleaning/household items, learning tools, stationery, activities, celebrations, emergency fund, income tax, GST):

RM15,723.10 to RM27,184.05 (depending on location)

Losses: RM1,984.05 to RM14,059.10 (depending on location)

Note: All survey participants are registered childcare centres.

Source: Association of Registered Childcare Providers Malaysia.