CHILD CARE CENTRES CAN REDUCE STRESS AND CHILD ABUSE, SAYS PM`S WIFE

KUALA LUMPUR, March 18 (Bernama) -- Employers should consider setting up
child care centres at work places to help reduce stress at work, especially
among working mothers, said the Prime Minister's wife Rosmah Mansor.

She said such centres would not only relieve the mothers to know that their
children were well cared for but it would also enable them to be fully committed
towards their job.

"As for the child, being in a child care centre at the mother's work place
will certainly give them a sense of security and comfort, perhaps allowing them
to better respond to lessons or learning experiences while they are there," she
said.

According to her, providing child care facilities to working mothers could
help reduce the number of child abuse cases in the country.

Rosmah was speaking at the launching of Sime Darby's Child Protection Policy
by Queen Tuanku Nur Zahirah.

Rosmah also said she was saddened that despite the legislations, policies
and child protection programmes that were already in place as well as wide
campaigns to increase public awareness, child abuse cases still occurred
everywhere.

"Malaysia is not an exception to this scenario. As a mother, I am very
disturbed over the growing number of child abuse cases in the country. What is
happening in our society?" she asked.

She also lauded the commitment of non-government organisations and
corporations in making a difference by developing initiatives and collaboration
in addressing the issue.

"I would like to suggest that corporate organisations play their role within
their capacity by providing a better workplace environment and pleasant ambiance
to all their staff so that it would help to reduce the element of stress among
the working women," she said.

She said as part of One Malaysia, it must necessarily be a component of our
embedded values to respond collectively to help curb child abuse.

-- BERNAMA