Baby care dilemma: How strict ratios and costs are pushing nurseries to the brink

GEORGE TOWN – The issue of caregiver-to-infant ratios set under the Child Care Centre Act 1984 (Act 308) has become a major dilemma for childcare operators, with some forced to reject applications to care for babies.

Childcare operator Hajar Ahmad said that while they were reluctant to turn away infants due to the needs of working parents, financial constraints and strict requirements leave them in a difficult position.

However, she added that her centre still accepted babies and currently cared for 15 infants with the help of five caregivers.

“If the fee for one baby is RM600, the ratio of three babies only brings in RM1,800. After deducting cleaning and building maintenance costs, we’re only left with about RM100.

“That doesn’t even include sanitation fees, which can reach up to RM400 if there’s an outbreak of infectious disease,” she said when contacted.

Hajar Ahmad

She added that even if fees were raised to RM800 a month, it would still not be enough to cover the high operating costs.

Hajar said aside from the ratio issue, operators also faced other major challenges, such as minimum wage requirements and rising rental costs.

“A salary of RM1,700 is needed for an inexperienced caregiver, while qualified ones can earn up to RM2,000, not including deductions for the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) and Social Security Organisation (SOCSO).

“All mandatory courses, such as childcare certification, food handling, health vaccinations and other training must be borne by the employer. The rising cost of goods and rent, though manageable to a certain extent, still adds pressure, especially with the need to comply with nutritional guidelines,” she said.

She added that other challenges include emotional stress and trauma among caregivers, as well as negative public perception.

“Cases of abuse and infant deaths that went viral in recent years have caused many women to fear becoming caregivers. This makes it difficult for operators to hire staff willing to look after babies.

“On top of that, public perception is that whenever there’s an incident involving a childcare centre, all operators are judged harshly, even though many registered centres strive to safeguard infants’ safety according to the Welfare Department’s (JKM) standards.

“People only see the failures of a few centres, while many operators sacrifice their time and money to ensure a safe childcare environment,” she said.

She explained that nurseries not only help working parents contribute to the country’s economy but also provide job opportunities for single mothers and unemployed women.

Therefore, Hajar urged the government to step in to ensure childcare centres can continue operating and survive.

“We really need government assistance to cover minimum wage costs, provide allowances to caregivers and registered operators, as well as subsidies for childcare courses.

“If issues of costs, ratios, wages and caregiver trauma are not addressed soon, more nurseries will be forced to shut down and in the end, the ones who lose out are parents and children,” she added.