'Child care centres can cut need for maids'

New Straits Times

2009/09/07

KUALA LUMPUR: More daycare centres should be set up to help families in looking after and caring for their children.

Women, Family and Community Development Minister Senator Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil said the move was necessary as Malaysia could not depend on foreign maids forever.

"The ministry urges the private sector, non-governmental organisations and all individuals to support the government in setting up more child care centres (Tabika), kindergartens (Tadika) and child nurseries (Taska).

"Companies must also be more serious in preparing such facilities," she said, adding that daycare centres could also provide business opportunities. She said this in a statement yesterday following reports on Indonesia's proposal of its maids' minimum wage to be increased from RM400 to RM800.