Day-care centers aid holiday productivity

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.