SHAH ALAM – Rising operational costs are placing immense strain on childcare operators, with some centres no longer accepting babies under the age of two despite strong demand for care.
Negeri Sembilan Childcare Operators and Carers Association (PTN9) president Rozita Kamil said the implementation of a minimum salary of RM1,700 per month for nannies has intensified financial pressure.
Under the Social Welfare Department’s (JKM) regulations, one babysitter may only care for three infants at a time.
Rozita said most centres currently charge between RM500 and RM700 per baby, an amount that still falls short of covering actual costs.
In some states, such as Melaka, Perak and Kelantan, fees remain under RM500 despite increasing expenses.
“In reality, to cover a babysitter’s salary of between RM1,700 and RM2,000 per month, childcare fees should be at least RM1,000 per baby. But most parents cannot afford that, leaving operators to absorb the losses.
“We fully agree that nannies deserve higher salaries given the weight of their responsibilities. The real issue is not wages, but the gap between actual costs and what parents can afford,” she said.
Rozita noted that operators must also shoulder additional expenses, including daily sanitation, the mandatory Asuhan Permata course costing up to RM900 per person, baby safety equipment and annual advanced training.
She stressed that caring for babies under two is particularly challenging as their immune systems remain weak and they are prone to illness.
“Caring for babies is like guarding an egg at the edge of a horn. The 1:3 ratio must be maintained for their safety, but the operating costs are extremely high,” she said.
Rozita urged the Women, Family and Community Development (KPWKM) Ministry and JKM to provide targeted operational funds or subsidies for centres that care for infants under two.
She also proposed measures such as subsidies for baby equipment, a baby care insurance scheme, special incentives and raising the minimum qualification for babysitters to a diploma, with supervisors required to hold a degree.
Rozita reminded parents to send their children only to registered centres, identifiable by the JKM plaque introduced this year.
Looking ahead, she called for Malaysia to emulate progressive childcare policies from countries such as Sweden, Norway, Japan, South Korea and the United Kingdom, which include subsidised fees, licensed training for babysitters, mandatory workplace childcare facilities and regular health monitoring for infants.