Embracing the Critical Role of Caregivers

Challenges in childcare services leave little choice for mothers who wish to work

Childcare utilization in Malaysia is low. (Based on MPFS-5 survey in 2014, only 14.4% of working women are using childcare services. ) The lack of childcare centres, high number of unregistered childcare centres (thereby affecting confidence levels), and the high (and increasing) cost of childcare services are some of the main reasons contributing to low childcare utilisation in Malaysia. These challenges leave Malaysian mothers little choice between staying home to care for their children themselves or to continue their employment.

Childcare Challenges in Malaysia
 Source: (1) Reported, sourced from Government Transformation Programme; (2) JKM Statistics Report, 2015; (3) Reported, sourced from JKM; (4) Population survey conducted under this study (2017), n=389

Malaysians find that the government needs to increase its provision of childcare centres, and to also manage the fees of these centres.
Question: To what extent do you agree or disagree that the government should provide more childcare centres in Malaysia? Question: To what extend do you agree or disagree that the government should implement initiatives to manage the cost of childcare services in Malaysia? Source:Population survey conducted under this study (2017),F2,F7 Base: 389 (Have used or considering to use private/public childcare services)