Children play a traditional game on the outskirts of Yangon, Myanmar. (Photo by Ye Aung Thu/AFP)
The government of Myanmar has taken a step closer to establishing day care centers across the country for the benefit of working mothers.
Win Myat Aye, union minister for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement, announced on March 3 that they would proceed with the plan of opening day care centers.
Nang Phyu Phyu Lin, a women's rights activist, said it is a good move by the government but more social services need to be created by the government.
"The government really needs to improve budgets on issues related to gender issues and social welfare schemes," Phyu Phuy, a mother of a six-year-old girl, told ucanews.com.
Wint Wah Tun, a Lower House lawmaker for the ruling National League for Democracy Party in Kayah State and the mother of one young child has also welcomed the government's plan.
Myanmar, which was isolated for more than five decades under military rule, spends less than 0.5 percent of its GDP on social protection services, the lowest in ASEAN.
The government's plan to opening day care centers came as the country celebrated Myanmar Women's Week from March 6-12 in Naypyidaw and Yangon.
