Give universal allowances for childcare, disabled persons, govt told

 

The government must consider providing universal allowances for childcare and persons with disabilities (PWD) to tackle urban poverty in the post-pandemic era, said Unicef.

A study by the agency indicated that a universal childcare allowance would expand socioeconomic levels for children in the country.

It added that child development is most vulnerable from pre-birth to two years of age - the first 1,000 days.

“The cost is affordable; allocating RM200 per month to all pregnant mothers and children under two years of age will require an annual allocation of about RM2.2 billion, equivalent to 0.12 percent of gross domestic product (GDP).

“These monthly allowances should be channelled directly to the expecting mothers,” the report read.

Apart from parents, Unicef said PWDs should be given monthly allowances as they face greater economic vulnerabilities.

This is because they are less likely to be in full-time employment and burdened with the rising cost of healthcare.

“It is estimated that the fiscal cost of providing universal cash allowance for all registered persons with disabilities in the country is about RM3.2 billion per year or 0.17 percent of GDP,” it added.

DM Analytics lead researcher Muhammed Abdul Khalid proposed a monthly allowance of RM200 for mothers from the start of their pregnancy until their child turns two.

He emphasised the vulnerability of children and Malaysia’s persistent issue of malnutrition.

The study, co-authored by Muhammed, Zouhair Rosli, Juanita Vasquez Escallon, and Maryam Halim, aimed to provide evidence-based insights into the post-Covid landscape, particularly the escalating cost of living.

Post-Covid poverty

The survey, which covered 755 low-income households, revealed a concerning statistic: 40 percent of children in such households now live below the poverty line. Despite an increase in household income and most household heads returning to work, the poverty rate remained alarmingly high.

While the median monthly household income rose by 32 percent to an average of RM3,000, households led by women experienced a smaller increase of 23 percent, reaching only RM1,600 – still below the 2022 poverty line of RM2,589.

Households headed by PWDs recorded the lowest average monthly income of RM1,550.

Muhammed said introducing a universal allowance for PWDs would ensure income security while complementing existing healthcare and employment protection measures.

He further proposed extending the allowance to primary caregivers of disabled family members.

He added that the proposed universal allowance would cost less than 0.2 percent of the country’s GDP, making it highly affordable. - Mkini