W. Java government offices instructed to provide nursery rooms, day care centers

The Jakarta Post, Bandung Mon, 06/25/2012


West Java Governor Ahmad Heryawan instructed on Monday all governmental offices in the province establish nursery rooms and day care centers.

“By next month, all government offices in West Java must have nursery rooms and day care centers,” Heryawan said in Bandung.

Heryawan said the establishment of nursery rooms and day care centers was a compromise between economy and humanity issues often faced by working mothers.

“Working mothers often face dilemmas between raising their children on their own or to go to work and leave their children to nannies. Nursery rooms and day care centers will allow them to go to work while fulfilling their children’s needs,” he said.

Heryawan said that the amount of the budget would be depend on each office, saying that it would not require substantial funds.

“The effect will be much bigger for families’ futures,” he said.

Some West Java government offices, including the Gedung Sate governor office, Road Agency, Health Agency and Education Agency, already have nursery rooms.

West Java Breastfeeding Mothers Association chairwoman Andriana Chaizir lauded the governor’s move, saying that it was in support of the Governmental Regulation No. 33/2010 on exclusive breastfeeding.

Separately, Andriana and Heryawan said that they wished such instruction could be supported by a bylaw.

“[I hope] not only government offices should provide such rooms, but all public spaces,” Andriana said