WAO urges direct, inclusive support for all working women
PETALING JAYA: The proposed maternity leave assistance allowance should cover all working women, including those involved in contract, gig, migrant and informal work, says the Women’s Aid Organisation (WAO).
Its executive director Nazreen Nizami said these groups are often excluded from existing protections despite facing financial vulnerability during their maternity period.
“The allowance should be adequate and tied to a reasonable income replacement rate, recognising that many households face increased costs during this period while potentially losing income.
“Beyond cash support, the policy should also be integrated with broader care infrastructure, such as access to affordable childcare, postnatal healthcare and mental health support, so that mothers are not left to shoulder unpaid care burdens alone,” she said.
“At the same time, there should be clear mechanisms to ensure that the allowance is paid directly to women and remains under their control.
“We have seen in various contexts where financial assistance intended for women can sometimes be appropriated by spouses or other family members, which undermines its purpose and the woman’s autonomy.”
Nazreen was commenting on Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri R. Ramanan’s statement that more than 100,000 expectant mothers nationwide could soon benefit from a proposed maternity leave assistance allowance under PERKESO.
He said that PERKESO has been instructed to fine-tune the proposal for a maternity leave assistance allowance under its insurance system.
Following the amendments to the Employment Act 1955, which took effect on Jan 1, 2023, female employees are entitled to a minimum of 98 consecutive days of paid maternity leave.
Association of Women Lawyers (AWL) president Jasmine Wong welcomed the support but questioned its reach.
“Whether this allowance reaches the informal economy or how it works alongside employer-paid benefits remains to be seen,” she said.
Wong stressed the need for better enforcement of workplace protections and stronger systems for child support maintenance.
“Without addressing these gaps, the impact may be limited.
“We still need to see progress on structural issues.
“These include affordable childcare, better enforcement of workplace protections and stronger systems to ensure maintenance and child support are actually paid.
“This is so that women are not left carrying a disproportionate burden at home and at work.”
Wong added that motherhood must not be viewed in isolation because fathers must also be encouraged to play an important role in terms of care responsibilities.
Women’s Centre for Change programme director Karen Lai said the impact of the allowance will depend on its design.
“Currently, Malaysia already provides 98 days of paid maternity leave, but coverage is uneven because it depends on employers, excluding gig and informal workers.
“Initiatives for improvement should expand coverage, provide meaningful income support through a more universal social insurance approach, extend support beyond the leave period such as through childcare or return-to-work assistance, and be complemented by stronger paternity and shared parental leave so both parents are better supported in caring for their child.”
Lai said there is no meaningful shared parental leave model which under-recognises the role of men as fathers and equal carers for children.
This reinforces the burden of childcare on women, affecting women’s return-to-work rates and career progression, she added.
