Participants in a photo call with Rosey (seated centre), Abdul Rahman (seated second left), Noriah (seated second right) and Rohaini (seated right) at the Work Life Balance closing ceremony yesterday.
KOTA SAMARAHAN: Parents are urged to constantly seek self-improvement by equipping themselves with skills and knowledge necessary for raising a harmonious and knowledgeable family.
In addition, Welfare, Women and Family Development Minister Datuk Fatimah Abdullah said working parents should strive to balance their time between family and career.
With that in mind, she said programmes such as the Work Life Balance programme organised by her ministry and Women’s Bureau in collaboration with the state National Population and Family Development Board (LPPKN) were held to help them.
“We hope through this programme, we will be able to raise awareness and knowledge amongst parents on how crucial it is to balance their role of being parents and career persons.
“Besides this, the programme will provide skills and guides on parenting to counter family challenges,” she said in her speech read by Assistant Minister of Early Childhood Education and Family Development Rosey Yunus at the programme’s closing ceremony held at Kota Samarahan
Civic Centre yesterday.
Fatimah also expressed her concern for families with both parents working, who might not be able to manage their responsibilities and duties as parents and working persons at the same time.
“Such cases often give rise to various issues such as weak family ties, less communication among family members, neglect of children as well as less control on the children’s development and behaviour,” she explained.
In view of this, she said proper parenting skills were vital to ensure that children receive adequate care and education.
Fatimah also pointed out that husbands should help their wives with household chores.
“The sharing of family responsibilities among husband and wife ought to be applied in each family,” she stressed.
Earlier, 84 participants comprising workers from the public and private sectors, non-governmental organisations as well as residents from Samarahan took part in the programme.
Samarahan Resident Abdul Rahman Sebli Senusi, Sarawak Women’s Bureau director Noriah Ahmad and state LPPKN director Rohaini Ahmad were among the people present.