Women’s bureau elevated to full-fledged department

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(From seventh left) Fatimah joins the cutting of the celebratory cake together with Assistant Minister of Early Childhood Education and Family Development Rosey Yunus, Sarawak Women’s and Family Department director Noriah Ahmad and other NGO representatives.

KUCHING: The Sarawak Women’s Bureau has been elevated to a full-fledged department and renamed the Sarawak Women’s and Family Department (JWKS).Welfare, Women and Family Development Minister Datuk Fatimah Abdullah told a press conference yesterday that it would have an expanded role and responsibilities relating to women and family development, capacity building, advocacy and social support.

“The department’s organisation chart will also be experiencing restructuring as JWKS will be roping in new staff to beef up our current workforce of only 11 personnel,” she said.

She said the cabinet had approved up to 37 staff for the different units under the department.

“With more staff, the department can expand its scope more thoroughly to cater and bring great benefits to all Sarawakians, especially the womenfolk,” said Fatimah, who is also Dalat assemblywoman. She also highlighted strategic cooperation forged among non-governmental organisations (NGOs), private bodies and government agencies to reach out to the masses. The Sarawak Women’s Bureau was approved on Jan 23, 1985 and officially formed on Aug 25, 1988.

Since Sept 30, 2011, the bureau has been under the purview of the Welfare, Women and Family Development Ministry.