KUCHING: More workplace childcare centres will be set up in Sarawak this year to help working parents and widen access to early childhood education, says Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah.

       The state Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Minister, said there were currently 20 such facilities in the state.

       "Last year, three new workplace childcare centres were set up at Menara SEDC, Puncak Borneo Prison Complex and the state Welfare Department.

       "A few more will be opened this year, and some are now in the process of renovation," she said after visiting the Welfare Department's workplace childcare centre at Wisma Kebajikan here on Tuesday (Jan 2).

       Fatimah said workplace childcare centres were an important support system for working parents and a child-friendly initiative.

       "We hope more childcare centres will be set up in the workplace.

       "This facility is much needed by parents who are both working so that their child can be taken care of in a safe and conducive environment," she said.

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       Fatimah also said one of her ministry's focus areas was to provide access to early childhood education through childcare centres and kindergartens.

       She said access to early childhood education in Sarawak reached 98.7% last year.

       "With facilities such as childcare centres in the workplace, more children will have the opportunity to access early childhood education," she said.

       Fatimah added that the state government provided subsidy assistance of RM1,000 a year to needy parents for childcare and kindergarten fees.

       She said RM2.5mil has been allocated this year for the fee subsidy.