Activist Calls For Incentives To Get Illegal Childcare Centres Registered

---

 
More than 1,000 private childcare centres are unregistered despite warnings by the authorities, according to women, family and community development minister Rina Harun. (Rawpixel pic)PETALING JAYA: A child rights activist has urged the government to offer incentives for the registration of illegal childcare centres to enable improvements in regulating the industry.
Suriana Welfare Society chairman James Nayagam said many childcare centres were reluctant to apply for licences because the requirements were too strict.
“Many are afraid that it will take too long,” he told FMT.
“They need to be assured by the women, family and community development ministry or the social welfare department that following these guidelines will keep children safe.
“Incentives such as tax exemption and training should be provided to owners of these centres so they will come forward and register.”
On Saturday, a news report quoted women, family and community development minister Rina Harun as saying that 1,028 private childcare centres remained unregistered despite receiving warnings from the authorities.
Nayagam said parents should be wary of sending their children to illegal childcare centres as this could endanger them.
“Parents are not aware of the regulations involved. A childcare centre needs to meet minimum standards such as hygiene, fire prevention and building safety.
“CCTV cameras are also needed at the centres as they can be tools to prevent child abuse.
“A lot of things can go wrong if there is no oversight by the government.
“The government should host a road show to bring more awareness of the importance of following these rules,” he said.
Nayagam proposed that the government form a one-stop centre led by NGO representatives to help register illegal childcare centres.
He said NGOs would gladly help centre owners with applications and set up meetings with the government to provide clarification on safety compliance.
“This will encourage childcare centres to come forward and is more effective than announcing stricter measures, de-registration, penalties or legal action,” he said.
Child protection consultant Vijayakumari Pillai said the problem lay with the local councils in most districts.
“The ministry must direct all local councils to standardise the requirements,” she said. “In some districts in Peninsular Malaysia, the care centres have to pay assessment at commercial rates.”
Vijayakumari also said the social welfare department needed more officers to monitor and supervise these centres.
She said parents should visit the department’s website to check whether any particular childcare centre had been registered. - FMT

---