(Petaling Jaya, Tuesday): Days away from the start of the 9th Malaysia Plan, aspects of the previous Plans, presented with much fanfare years ago, are still gathering dust in the government file cabinets.

Increasing the female labour force is one of the proposals outlined in the 6th Malaysia Plan (1991-1995). Malaysia's female participation in the workforce has been hovering around 45 percent over the past two decades.

In 1985, female labour participation in Malaysia was 44.3 percent, up a shade higher at 46 percent in 2005.

This is much lower than most industrial countries, such as Singapore (56 percent), South Korea (51 percent) and United States (57 percent).

The 6th Malaysia Plan said the increase would enhance women's status in the society vis-à-vis the men. One of the reasons for the lackluster performance is due to the lack of childcare facilities and other supporting mechanisms for women in the workforce.

The lack of concerns for childcare has a consequence for income distribution.

According to the Economic Report 2004/05, the number of domestic maids rose sharply by more than three times from 75,300 in 1997 to 361,006 as at July 2004.

A report sponsored by National Economic Action Council revealed that families that can afford to employ maids were usually dual-income families with a combined income of RM 5,000 per month.

In other words, families that could afford maids earn two incomes. Women who cannot afford a maid in their family have no choice, in most cases, but to stay at home.

The government belatedly allocated a meager RM 1.9 million to build 10 childcare centres in August 2005.

That is grossly insufficient. The DAP Wanita reiterates its long term call for a national plan for childcare services to facilitate female participation in the workforce so that their welfare will be enhanced by their independent source of income.