‘We want more than cash incentives’ - Women say

What women want: A holistic approach is needed to boost their participation in the labour force, which is currently at 55% compared to men at 88%.

PETALING JAYA: Some women are keen to return to work following the Women@Work incentives announced in Budget 2020, while others said it was not enough of a pull factor.

Instead, they want the flexibility of working from home.

Former journalist Ayusliza Azizan, 32, said the incentives allayed her fears of reservations by employers on hiring women who are above 30 and she was considering going back to work.

“The incentives will encourage us to rejoin the workforce and help improve our family’s finances, ” said the mother of one from Sekinchan, Selangor.

Former Human Resource executive, Masrah Marsinda, 31, from Bukit Beruntung, Selangor said the incentives would motivate women to restart their career as the RM500 could help pay for transportation or childcare.

“Employers tend to offer low starting salaries to women with employment gaps, so the incentives would boost their income and well-being, ” she said, adding that her previous employer had given her a low pay because of her two-year break from work.

Former executive Norlia Ahmad, 42, said she welcomed the initiative as she has been actively searching for a job after quitting a part-time e-hailing job last month.

“I stopped working formally more than 10 years ago to take care of my twin daughters.

“Now that they are grown up and in a boarding school, I think it’s a good time for me to return to work, ” she said.

A single mother, who recently walked out from an abusive marriage, said she hoped to get the incentive, as it would help provide for her five children.

The 33-year-old, who only wanted to be known as Kalpana, said her RM1,300 salary as a cafe assistant was not enough.

“I last worked as a security guard and that was 15 years ago when I had my first child.

“I’m not sure if I’m eligible for this incentive. But if I am, it’s going to really help me a lot, ” she said.

Other former working mothers said the incentive alone was not enough.

Leanne Chua, 29, from Ampang Jaya, said childcare costs more than RM500 a month, and there were other expenses and arrangements to consider.

“For now, I am more comfortable taking care of my own children while doing some flexible translation work for some income, ” said Chua, who has two sons, aged six and nine.

A 30-year-old housewife from Nilai, who declined to be named, said it would be more promising if employers offer working mothers flexibility such as working from home or allow her to bring children to work on certain occasions.

The mother, who has been on a career break for more than a year after giving birth to her first-born, said she was concerned employers would not tolerate the needs of working mothers.

“I fear employers may be hesitant to hire working mothers as we may need to take emergency leave more often than others in order to tend to our sick children or for other unforeseen circumstances, ” said the former nutritionist, adding that employers in the private sector are also required to increase maternity leave from 60 days to 90 days in 2021.

A mother in her 40s, who wanted to be known only as Kim, concurred that the incentives would be more attractive if companies allow flexi work hours and allow mothers to work from home, or provide childcare services for families with children.

Nur Izzah Afiqah, 31, a mother of three from Shah Alam said the incentive was not enough after considering the cost of sending her three children to daycare.

“Sending a child to daycare cost RM400 to RM450 per month. With three children, how much will that cost me every month?

“I would only consider returning to work if my children have completed schooling, ” she said.

A former lecturer in Shah Alam, who only wanted to be known as Chen, said she would not return to work anytime soon as she wanted to be more involved in her child’s upbringing.

“I had a child late and I want to experience motherhood better by bonding with my son, ” said the 37-year-old.

However, Chen noted that the initiative is good for women whose children had grown up.- Star