Green Home opens first childcare centre in Sudurpaschim

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Feb. 16: At a time when many female workers employed in factories and industries are leaving their jobs, citing their inability to find time to care for their children while industries and factories have also been reluctant to hire women who have young children, an industry in Kailali has found an alternative solution to address both problems.

Dinesh Lamsal, General Secretary of the Kailali Chamber of Commerce and Industry, has established a childcare centre, primary treatment facility, and breastfeeding room within the premises of Green Home Pvt. Ltd., which he founded in Lalpur, Godawari-6, Kailali.

The facility was inaugurated at a programme by the Treasurer of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) Bharat Raj Acharya on Friday. 

Acharya said that this was the first time in Sudurpashchim Province that a childcare centre, primary treatment facility, and breastfeeding room had been established within an industrial structure. 

“The biggest challenge for female workers was the obligation to care for their children while working. The industry has now addressed this issue,” he said. “This practice, which has begun with this industry for the first time in Sudurpashchim Province, should be adopted by all industries.”

Built with an investment of around Rs. 1 million, the facility allows female employees with children to care for them at regular intervals. The centre is equipped with essential facilities for nutritious food and play materials for children.

Likewise, Lamsal said the childcare centre was established after experienced female workers began leaving their jobs due to childcare difficulties, with the aim of providing a supportive environment for their children within the workplace. 

According to him, the industry currently employs 92 female and 32 male workers. The female workers, who earn around Rs. 20,000 per month on average, have expressed enthusiasm at being able to care for their children at their workplace.Hari Paudel, Assistant Director of FNCCI, said that the childcare centre would support children’s learning through play.

The industry has created physical infrastructure for the childcare centre, breastfeeding room, and dressing room, while FNCCI provided the necessary internal equipment with financial and technical support from the International Labour Organization (ILO) Nepal.

The facility provides arrangements for children under four years of age to play, learn, and eat, and the industry has stated that a facilitator will also be appointed to support them.

FNCCI Sudurpashchim Vice-President Anil Kumar Bhojaniya and ILO's National Programme Coordinator Tara Kandel said that this initiative launched in Kailali is necessary and should be replicated in industries across the region.