Malaysia to train more caregivers to help women start families

Nancy Shukri, Malaysia's Minister for Women, Family and Community Development, has identified a critical gap in support services that is discouraging women from having larger families. The minister noted that many women face difficult choices between career advancement and family expansion due to the burden of simultaneously caring for aging parents.

The minister's remarks underscore a growing demographic challenge in Malaysia, where women increasingly defer or limit family planning due to caregiving responsibilities. Working women juggling employment with caring for elderly relatives often lack adequate support systems, creating a significant barrier to family formation.

To address this issue, the government is moving to expand caregiver training programs aimed at easing the dual burden faced by working women. By increasing the availability of trained domestic and professional caregivers, the initiative seeks to create space for women to pursue both career and family goals without sacrificing either responsibility.

The announcement reflects broader efforts by the Ministry to examine how policy and support services can better accommodate the needs of Malaysian women navigating modern family life. Officials indicate that bolstering the caregiver sector is considered essential to improving the conditions under which women make family planning decisions.