WITH Malaysia’s fertility rate declining amid rising living costs, the government is strengthening financial support, workplace protection and access to child care to ease pressure on women, says Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri.
Malaysia’s fertility rate has been on a steady decline for more than a decade, reflecting how economic pressures, urban lifestyles and changing social expectations are reshaping family planning decisions, particularly among women.
Once above the replacement level of 2.1 children per woman, the country’s total fertility rate has fallen well below that threshold, signalling fewer births and a faster ageing population.
Nancy said the government has introduced several financial support mechanisms to reduce the burden of raising children. These include child care fee subsidies for Taska (childcare) centres, which aim to ease costs for low-income parents while improving access to early education.
“The maximum rate of the child care fee subsidy is RM180 per month for each child,” she told Sinar Daily.
Effective from the Year of Assessment 2026, she said the existing RM3,000 tax relief for child care and preschool fees has been expanded to include registered day-care and after-school transit centres for children up to 12 years old.
Workplace protections have also been strengthened through amendments to the Employment Act 2022, which took effect in 2023. These include flexible working arrangements and protection against termination for pregnant employees. Maternity leave has been extended from 60 to 98 consecutive days, while married male employees are entitled to seven consecutive days of paid paternity leave.
“The amendment to the Employment Act 2022 directly supports work-life balance for women in Malaysia through stronger employment protection and flexible working arrangements.
“It is an offence for an employer to terminate a female employee who is pregnant or suffering from pregnancy-related illnesses, except in cases of misconduct, breach of contract or business closure. Married male employees are also entitled to seven consecutive days of paid paternity leave, promoting a more equitable sharing of child care responsibilities,” she said.
Nancy also highlighted fertility support through the National Population and Family Development Board’s Bantuan Rawatan Kesuburan dan Advokasi Infertiliti (BuAI) initiative. The programme funds two cycles of Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) for eligible couples, alongside early fertility screening, counselling and referrals.
“Private IUI can cost between RM2,000 and RM3,000 per cycle, whereas BuAI provides these cycles free of charge for those who qualify,” she said, adding that the programme recorded a 12 per cent success rate as of late 2025.
She added that the government is also encouraging family-friendly workplace policies, including flexible working hours, remote work and extended parental leave, to support work-life balance and long-term family well-being.
Rising living costs, housing prices, child care fees, healthcare expenses and job insecurity remain among the main reasons couples are delaying marriage and childbirth or choosing to have fewer children.
For many women, the decision to start or expand a family is increasingly driven by financial survival rather than personal choice, as the costs of pregnancy, early education and daily caregiving compete with career stability and personal well-being.
It has been warned that prolonged low fertility could have serious consequences for Malaysia’s future workforce, economic growth and social support systems, with a shrinking younger population placing heavier pressure on public healthcare, pension schemes and caregiving services.