Women’s groups welcome gov’t statement on possible reopening of daycare centres

AMMAN — Women groups have welcomed a recent statement by the government’s spokesperson regarding the possible opening of daycare centres soon.

On Thursday, Minister of State for Media Affairs Amjad Adaileh told a local television station that the government intends to open more sectors in the coming days, such as clubs and daycare centres.

Since the government announced in early May the gradual reopening of several sectors, women’s groups and parents have been calling on the government to allow the daycare sector and other childcare facilities to return to work to ensure women’s continued active participation in the labour market.

SADAQA organisation repeated its call on the government to adopt several steps to ensure the sustainability of the day-care centres’ work, especially following the economic repercussions that resulted from the COVID-19 crisis.

The organisation called on the government to establish a special fund to support the daycare sector’s financial obligations, such as salaries, bills, bank loans and rent.

The group also called on the government to introduce tax incentives and to waive the electricity, water and Internet bills for these establishments during the nationwide lockdown.

Another demand was to form a “clear government reference” that ensure social protection for this sector. 

SADAQA had initiated an electronic campaign earlier this month titled “Female labourers’ voices” urging social media users to call on the government to open the daycare centres under the hashtags “where would we leave our children?” and “no work without daycare centres”.

Solidarity Is Global Institute (SIGI) also issued a statement calling on the government to allow children and the elderly to leave the house. 

“This strict curfew that is imposed on children will force many working and unemployed women to stay home to take care of their children, which will force them to lose their job or to be unable to enrol in various professions to support themselves and their families,” the SIGI statement said.

Women in Business Arabia (WBA) also urged the government to consider the nurseries as a vital sector “to protect women’s right and support the return and continuation of various economic sectors in accordance with the health and safety conditions”.