Day-care centers aid holiday productivity
Sari P. Setiogi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
In a predominantly Muslim country like Indonesia, Idul Fitri always brings joy to extended families. The celebration is always marked by the return of children who live miles away from their hometown, steamed rice cake ketupat, new clothes, gifts and cash rewards for children.
But it's not the case for couples who have to let their maids and nannies celebrate their annual holiday in their hometowns. Parents are left with dirty diapers, crying babies, piles of dirty clothes and an empty dining table.
What about companies and government institutions which are less productive during the holiday? Employees -- who are working parents -- take an extended leave as they cannot leave their children at home alone.
"I took 10 days leave last year as the nanny was away and I had to take care of my daughters myself at home," Nurulita Novi Arlaida, 35, told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday.
However, this year the mother of two-year-old twin girls, Latifa and Narisa, will only take one day off.
"My office has opened a day-care center from Nov. 8 to Nov. 25 so I could bring my daughters to the office and keep working without worrying about them," said Nurulita, who is corporate relations officer of consumer giant PT Unilever Indonesia.
Latifa was throwing her stuffed animal toy to her mom, and later Narisa followed suit. They shared a big laugh. Later Narisa ran toward her mom and hugged her leg.
At the other end of the day-care room, Rara was climbing a colorful slide followed by her friend. Two boys jumped into a pool filled with plastic balls.
Five-month-old Nadia was sitting on her mother's lap while a supervisor was trying to attract her with a hand-puppet. The room was filled with children's laughter and shrieks of delight.
"We do not want our employees to be forced to choose between their family and work during the Idul Fitri period. It would not be an easy decision," senior medical advisor of Unilever, Johny Sulistio, told the Post.
"We are a consumer goods company which, unlike other businesses, is busiest during the holiday. We need more employees to handle the work during the holiday season," said Johny, who oversees the day-care center.
The office, which employs some 700 people, used to always be empty during the holiday in the past, said Maya F. Tamini from the Unilever Care Indonesia foundation, who is also a mother of a five-month-old baby.
The day-care center was introduced this year to encourage more employees to take less leave during major holidays.
"We are taking care of some 20 toddlers aged up to three years old. We provide the care-givers, programs, meals, health officers and toys," said Johny, adding that the company allocated Rp 1.5 million (US$167) for each child.
State Minister for Women's Empowerment, Meutia Farida Hatta Swasono, who visited the center on Wednesday, said such a day- care center was very much needed in a business city like Jakarta.
"More women are working now and the consequence is more children are getting less attention and care from their parents," she said.
She said existing day-care centers were able to take care of some 0.1 percent of the estimated number of toddlers of working parents.