The Government Must Respond Quickly To The Provision Of Daycare In The Workplace

JAKARTA - The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Puan Maharani, has encouraged the Government to issue regulations on the obligation of the work environment to provide child care facilities (daycare). The government is reminded to listen to the appeal.

"This is a good idea that we must appreciate," said Women and Children Activist from the Sarinah Institute, Luky Sandra Amalia, Monday, December 16.

Previously, Puan highlighted the Government's appeal asking offices to provide child care facilities (daycare) for its employees. He emphasized that the place of work does have an obligation to provide daycare in accordance with the mandate of Law Number 4 of 2024 concerning Maternal and Child Welfare in the First Phase of the Thousand Days of Life (UU KIA) which is an initiative of the DPR.

Puan asked the Government to immediately issue programs along with derivative regulations in the implementation of the KIA Law, including in terms of the obligation to provide daycare facilities in the work environment. Amalia also encourages the same thing.

"This good idea should not stop at the level of ideas just because the legal umbrella already exists, namely the KIA Law. Well, it's just a matter of implementation," explained the researcher of the Political Research Center of the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN).

Amalia said that the implementation of daycare provision in offices, including in State institutions, is not an easy matter. However, he reminded that it is the Government's obligation to implement the mandate of the law.

"The call from the Chairman of the DPR must be a reminder that the Government has an obligation to provide facilities for mothers to work according to the mandate of the KIA Law, including in terms of this daycare," explained Amalia.

"Incidentally, the chairman of the DPR is a woman, of course she understands and has experienced problems faced by working mothers. The government must respond quickly to the encouragement from the Speaker of the DPR because daycare has also become an urgent need for workers," he continued.

Furthermore, Amalia said that solid cooperation was needed between the executive as the implementer of policies with the legislature who also acted as representatives of the people, including representatives of working mothers.

"So how can this representative of the people encourage the Government to implement the mandate of the law whose presence departs from the DPR's initiative," said Amalia.

Amalia also emphasized the importance of the Government's alignment with women's groups, in this case related to the needs of mothers who also have the status of workers and children's welfare in accordance with the spirit of the KIA Law.

"So that this good idea can be realized, of course we all hope that there will be partiality from the government as the implementer of the law. Without partiality, they will only see this issue as a domestic issue, not a state capitalization," he explained.

"In fact, these children are the next generation of the nation who will determine Indonesia's future," added Amalia.

In addition, Amalia also asked the Government to immediately embrace the private sector so that the idea of providing daycare in the workplace does not only apply to the government environment but can also be felt by working women in the private sphere.

"When it comes to partiality, it should also be finalized about the infrastructure, financing, and quality so that it doesn't even burden mothers to work as end users," he added.

The discourse on providing daycare in this workplace resurfaced after the Minister of Population and Family Development (Dukbangga)/Head of BKKBN Wihaji asked for quality daycare or child care in offices or institutions.

The issue of the office obligation to provide daycare has long been a concern of the DPR so that it is included in the KIA Law which was ratified by the DPR some time ago.

"As a working mother, I really understand the problems faced by parents. Because the conditions of each family are different, not all parents who work can be in a condition of entrusting their children at home to their families or caregivers," said the Chairman of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Puan Maharani, Friday (13/12).

Therefore, the DPR through the KIA Law tries to present solutions for parents working especially for women as mothers. The KIA Law itself is a regulation that emphasizes that children's growth and development are collective responsibility, not just mothers.

"UU KIA ensures that all parties are involved in the child growth and development process in order to produce a superior Indonesian generation," said the first woman to serve as Chair of the DPR RI.

The rules for providing daycare in offices, both private companies and government institutions, are contained in Article 30 Paragraph (3) of the KIA Law. This article regulates the obligation to provide facilities and infrastructure for pregnant and childbirth mothers.

The article states that there are a number of facilities, proper accommodation, facilities, and infrastructure that must be provided with a workplace for pregnant women and after giving birth, namely health service facilities, provision of lactation rooms, and child care facilities (daycare).

According to Puan, the rules regarding daycare facilities are a form of support for working women. That way, women who work can still be productive as well as play a role in taking care of their children.