Islamabad workplaces will have daycare centers

President Dr. Arif Alvi approved the ‘Daycare Centres Bill 2023’ on Thursday, making it mandatory for public and private agencies in the federal capital to establish daycare facilities for employees with children.

Read more with EL news: Multiple sector development projects are approved by the CDWP

Under a bill ratified by President Dr. Arif Alvi on Thursday, the nursery facilities will be established. The Daycare Centers Bill 2023 was signed by the president in accordance with Article 75 of the Constitution, according to a statement from the President’s House.

The bill stipulates that the federal government will guarantee the establishment of nursery centers in departments with at least 70 employees. After the initial warning, a fine of up to Rs0.1 million will be imposed for law violations. Six months of confinement would be imposed for each additional nursery establishment delay.

Senator Quratulain Marri introduced the measure on November 12, 2018, as there are currently no such facilities for children in public or private organisations.

The bill stated that women make up more than half of the country’s population and that the number of women working as primary or secondary wage producers has steadily increased in urban areas. The Day Care Centres Act of 2018 requires all public and private entities to establish daycare centres, as the majority of public and private entities lack such a facility. Very few public and private organisations provide high-quality nursery facilities for working women.

Some of the nursery facilities are prohibitively expensive, others provide inadequate hygiene and nutrition, and a few are reported to be openly abusive.

The measure proposed that the federal and provincial governments of Pakistan establish a body composed of government officials and members of civil society to monitor, facilitate, and enforce the “Daycare Centers Act” in public and private organizations in order to assist working women.