Training more caregivers to help Malaysians start families
Women, family and community development minister Nancy Shukri says some women are reluctant to have larger families as they have to work while also caring for their parents at home.
The Malaysian government is taking steps to train professional caregivers in an effort to boost the country's declining birth rate, according to the Women, Family and Community Development Minister, Nancy Shukri. Shukri noted that many people are prioritizing their careers over starting families due to the increasing cost of raising children, as reported by the Borneo Post.
The ministry aims to develop a cadre of quality caregivers to provide women with the confidence to leave their children in daycare centers or with trained caregivers, thus encouraging larger families.
Shukri acknowledged that the government has implemented programs to assist those struggling with conception, but ultimately, married couples must take the initiative to have children. In July, official statistics revealed that the birth rate had dropped from 16.7 births per 1,000 population in 2015 to just 12.2 in 2024, marking the lowest annual figure of live births in 44 years since 1980.
The statistics department attributes the declining birth rate to changing lifestyles, rising living costs, delayed marriages, and a falling fertility rate. The ministry intends to collect more data to ensure it meets its fertility targets and is committed to finding ways to support couples facing fertility challenges.
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