16  January 2014
Maybank opens emergency Childcare Centre for children of employees

Maybank opens emergency Childcare Centre for children of employees

Maybank has established an emergency day care centre for children of employees, aimed at providing drop-in emergency childcare facilities or backup childcare services.

The centre, called the ‘Maybank Tiger Cubs Childcare Centre’ (MT3C) is believed to be the first childcare centre of its kind to operate on an emergency basis in Malaysia. MT3C aims to support employees by ensuring that while at the centre, their children are in a safe environment with high-quality care, coupled with engaging and educational activities to benefit the children during the duration of their stay.

The centre, which is made available for employees to utilise when their regular caregiver is unavailable due to an emergency or unexpected situations, caters to children from 3 months to 6 years of age.

The centre complements Maybank’s holistic policies that include a Flexible Work Arrangement Policy, 90 days maternity leave, paternity leave, provision for delivery charges for eligible employees, as well as many other benefits and initiatives to promote a healthy work-life balance. Maybank has a range of financial assistances, subsidies and recognition programmes for eligible employees and their children as well as various well-being programmes that look into both the physical and emotional welfare of staff such as positive parenting workshops and monthly health talks.

In announcing the operations of the childcare centre, Maybank’s Group Chief Human Capital Officer, Puan Nora Manaf said that it was in line with the Group’s commitment to continuously ensure that Maybank is innovative in delivering support to staff in pursuit of highly productive yet caring employer value proposition. “The setting up of the MT3C reinforces this commitment through the inclusion of childcare services as part of our family-friendly practices,” she said. “The availability of such a centre at the workplace will help to alleviate the anxiety of parents who face emergency situations, and allow them to focus on their work with the assurance that their children are well taken care of, resulting in better productivity and work quality.”

Nora said that the children will be cared for by qualified Maybank staff including those with nursing qualifications. Employees chosen to work at the centre are equipped with skills acquired from the Permata Childcare and Early Education Course [Kursus Asas Asuhan Permata] in order to prepare them adequately.

“The centre will provide a stimulating environment for the children, ensuring safety and comfort during the period of their stay. Employees are given equal access and opportunity to bring their children in subject to the maximum number of spaces per day, as opposed to a select fewer number of employees who are able to utilise the centre if it offers full-time childcare. This allows the Group to assist larger numbers of employees in times of need,” she explained.

Located on the grounds of Menara Maybank, the centre caters to children of employees from the Klang Valley. The service will be made available on a case-to-case basis for staff across all grades, given proof that an emergency situation has occurred such as when regular caregivers are ill, unexpectedly unavailable and time is needed to search for a new arrangement, the child’s school is closed due to unexpected circumstances or either parent is unavailable due to unusual or unexpected circumstances.

Wan Musfirah Aimi, an employee of Maybank who has a 4 year old son, said “The staff of MT3C are friendly and very skilled. The centre is equipped with great activities scheduled for the kids to fill up their free time. Excellent!”.

Steven Pragasam, who has a daughter aged 3 years old and a son who is turning 2, soon, added that the ambience of MT3C is great and that he would definitely send his children to MT3C should the need arise.