DPR Member Proposes National Raid to Eradicate Unlicensed "Daycare" Facilities

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Member of the House of Representatives Commission VIII, Mahdalena, has proposed that the government immediately conduct a large-scale raid on unlicensed or illegal childcare facilities (daycare) across Indonesia.

“Operational permits are not merely administrative matters, but fundamental requirements to guarantee security, comfort, and quality childcare in accordance with children’s rights. The government must act swiftly to enhance supervision of daycares without permits,” Mahdalena stated in Jakarta on Thursday.

Mahdalena also highlighted data from the Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection (Kemen PPPA), which records that approximately 43 percent of daycares in Indonesia currently operate without legal status. Additionally, 66.7 percent of the managing human resources are uncertified, and 20 percent of them do not even have Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for childcare.

Referring to Law Number 4 of 2024 on Maternal and Child Welfare, Mahdalena emphasised that caregivers must understand rights-based childcare, including building emotional attachments. The existence of unlicensed daycares carries a high risk of violence, negligence, and long-term trauma for children, due to the absence of clear supervision standards.

Mahdalena reminded operators not to merely pursue business profits by ignoring children’s basic rights. In addition to raids, she requested the government to tighten the licensing system and provide intensive guidance so that all childcare services meet national standards.

“Do not consider establishing a daycare as just providing a building and caregivers. There are protection components that must be fulfilled. The state must be present to ensure that daycares truly become safe spaces for children’s growth and development, not places that threaten their safety,” she said.

Previously, the Ministry of Population and Family Development (Kemendukbangga)/BKKBN stated that it continues to strive to accelerate formalisation processes and improve data collection on childcare facilities as a step to regulate unlicensed daycares.

Secretary of Kemendukbangga/BKKBN, Budi Setiyono, conveyed that such acceleration needs to be carried out through collaboration between the government, society, and service providers, so that Indonesia’s childcare system will become stronger, adaptive, and oriented towards the best interests of the child.