KUCHING: The government is stepping up efforts to encourage more women to return to the workforce, particularly those held back by childcare and family responsibilities.
Women, Family, and Community Development Minister, Datuk Sri Nancy Shukri, said one of the main barriers preventing women from participating in the workforce is their caregiving responsibilities, including caring for children, family members requiring special attention and the elderly.
“Recognising this, the government has introduced various initiatives, including strengthening the caregiving industry and offering childcare subsidies.
“The government provides a subsidy of RM800 for childcare services at government nurseries.
“However, the private sector is also encouraged to offer similar facilities to support their female employees,” she said after officiating at the 2025 International Women’s Day Borneo Zone Celebration here Tuesday (Feb 11).
Additionally, she highlighted the importance of increasing the number of childcare centres at workplaces to help parents, especially women, return to work without worrying about their children’s care.
To strengthen the caregiving workforce, the government has also expanded caregiving training programmes through the Institute of Social Malaysia (ISM).
“Last year, we successfully trained 385 individuals, and this year, our target has increased to 485,” she explained, adding that the programme aims to produce a highly qualified workforce, starting from certificate-level training and progressing to diploma-level qualifications.
Meanwhile, she also announced a RM5 million allocation for the Perantis 2025 programme, aimed at promoting leadership and creativity among women, particularly the younger generation.
“We want to see more women come forward with creative and innovative ideas. This programme not only provides opportunities for their development but also proves the capability of women across various industries,” she added.
Through these initiatives, the government hopes to bridge the gender gap in workforce participation and ensure the implementation of women-friendly policies across all employment sectors.
