Day-care centers aid holiday productivity<\/p>\n
Sari P. Setiogi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
In a predominantly Muslim country like Indonesia, Idul Fitri
\nalways brings joy to extended families. The celebration is always
\nmarked by the return of children who live miles away from their
\nhometown, steamed rice cake ketupat, new clothes, gifts and cash
\nrewards for children.<\/p>\n
But it's not the case for couples who have to let their maids
\nand nannies celebrate their annual holiday in their hometowns.
\nParents are left with dirty diapers, crying babies, piles of
\ndirty clothes and an empty dining table.<\/p>\n
What about companies and government institutions which are
\nless productive during the holiday? Employees -- who are working
\nparents -- take an extended leave as they cannot leave their
\nchildren at home alone.<\/p>\n
\"I took 10 days leave last year as the nanny was away and I
\nhad to take care of my daughters myself at home,\" Nurulita Novi
\nArlaida, 35, told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
However, this year the mother of two-year-old twin girls,
\nLatifa and Narisa, will only take one day off.<\/p>\n
\"My office has opened a day-care center from Nov. 8 to Nov. 25
\nso I could bring my daughters to the office and keep working
\nwithout worrying about them,\" said Nurulita, who is corporate
\nrelations officer of consumer giant PT Unilever Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Latifa was throwing her stuffed animal toy to her mom, and
\nlater Narisa followed suit. They shared a big laugh. Later Narisa
\nran toward her mom and hugged her leg.<\/p>\n
At the other end of the day-care room, Rara was climbing a
\ncolorful slide followed by her friend. Two boys jumped into a
\npool filled with plastic balls.<\/p>\n
Five-month-old Nadia was sitting on her mother's lap while a
\nsupervisor was trying to attract her with a hand-puppet. The room
\nwas filled with children's laughter and shrieks of delight.<\/p>\n
\"We do not want our employees to be forced to choose between
\ntheir family and work during the Idul Fitri period. It would not
\nbe an easy decision,\" senior medical advisor of Unilever, Johny
\nSulistio, told the Post.<\/p>\n
\"We are a consumer goods company which, unlike other
\nbusinesses, is busiest during the holiday. We need more employees
\nto handle the work during the holiday season,\" said Johny, who
\noversees the day-care center.<\/p>\n
The office, which employs some 700 people, used to always be
\nempty during the holiday in the past, said Maya F. Tamini from
\nthe Unilever Care Indonesia foundation, who is also a mother of a
\nfive-month-old baby.<\/p>\n
The day-care center was introduced this year to encourage more
\nemployees to take less leave during major holidays.<\/p>\n
\"We are taking care of some 20 toddlers aged up to three years
\nold. We provide the care-givers, programs, meals, health officers
\nand toys,\" said Johny, adding that the company allocated Rp 1.5
\nmillion (US$167) for each child.<\/p>\n
State Minister for Women's Empowerment, Meutia Farida Hatta
\nSwasono, who visited the center on Wednesday, said such a day-
\ncare center was very much needed in a business city like Jakarta.<\/p>\n
\"More women are working now and the consequence is more
\nchildren are getting less attention and care from their parents,\"
\nshe said.<\/p>\n
She said existing day-care centers were able to take care of
\nsome 0.1 percent of the estimated number of toddlers of working
\nparents.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/day-care-centers-aid-holiday-productivity-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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