EXCO for Youth and Sport, Women, Family & Community Development Chong Eng, who attended the “Jom Daftar Taska & Pusat Jagaan” programme on Nov 30 at the Kompleks Masyarakat Penyayang (for those centres on the island) urged child care centres and nursing homes to get their services registered at the Social Welfare Department (JKM).
“The state government together with Penang Island City Council (MBPP) has taken some initiatives to assist the nursing homes and child care centres pertaining to the registration of their centres.
“A discount of 90% of the fees concerning ‘building change of view’ is offered to the operators by the state government to enable them to come forward and register their services at the JKM,” said Chong Eng at the programme.
A grace period of one year (Sept 15, 2017 – Sept 14, 2018) is given for those who have been operating before Sept 15, while those who have been operating from Sept 16 onwards have to adhere to the guidelines set earlier.
“The 90% discount is only for those applicants who have not settled the ‘infrastructure development’ fee while applicants who have already made the payments (infrastructure development fee), no refund will be made.
“Hence, all the operators are urged to take up the offer to get their centres registered for their own benefit, such as in terms of security and welfare of the people who seek their services,” she added.
According to statistics by JKM, in Penang a total of 93 nursing homes are registered, 88 are not registered whereas 142 child care centres are registered and 21 are not.