Mums who want to work need more support

SO, did you manage to get your mum an appropriate gift for this day that celebrates motherhood?

If you didn’t, we wish you luck riding the wave of guilt!

It’s not that most mums would even ask for anything or fault their kids for missing this day of appreciation – it’s just that mothers seem to have an inbuilt ability to press all our buttons until we don’t know whether we want to hug her or pull our hair out.

But whether they get on our nerves sometimes (because they know us better than we know ourselves), we can’t deny the sacrifices they make for us and the great love they have to carry us, not just for nine months but for all their lives, as long as they can.

So here’s a happy Mothers Day to all the awesome mums out there!

But women are not only mothers, they are also wives, sisters, daughters and aunties, and yes, often they are also an employee, part of the nation’s workforce.

Nowadays, mums often not only want to get back to work after having children, but a lot of the time they need re-employment thanks to the rising cost of living.

However, while it is improving, our female labour force participation rate still lags behind men’s.

According to the Statistics Department, in July 2024 the female labour force participation rate was only 56.7% compared with men’s at 83.3%. That means 43.3% of women who are available to work, don’t, says the NGO Empower.

Getting mothers back into the workforce isn’t just about numbers, though, it’s about unlocking potential and building a more dynamic and inclusive society.

But it requires real support. Things like affordable and reliable childcare are crucial – focusing on work is hard if you’re worried about your child.

Flexible work arrangements, such as hybrid options to work remotely from home or adjustable hours, can help manage school runs or sick days.

The good news is that the government is taking some steps to address the situation.

We’ve seen improvements in maternity leave, giving mums more time with their newborns. Paternity leave is also becoming more common, encouraging dads to share the load from the start.

There are also initiatives promoting flexible work and looking into increasing childcare facilities and making them more accessible in terms of cost.

However, policies alone are not enough.

Employers must embrace family-friendly culture and see mothers as valued assets with unique skills.

Society, too, must let go of outdated expectations about who should be the primary caregiver. Supporting working mothers benefits everyone, leading to happier families, stronger businesses and a more prosperous Malaysia.

This Mothers Day, let’s begin building a Malaysia where every mother feels supported and empowered to pursue her dreams at home and work.

Here’s wishing all mothers a wonderful day!