The double whammy of COVID-19 outbreak and looming global economic recession has put the spotlight again on the gig economy.
The Movement Control Order (MCO) that triggered the new norms of social distancing, working from home, virtual learning and massive online shopping have given rise not only to the rapid development of the gig economy but also creating new services and opportunities.
One of the opportunities is childcare services, which is a lucrative business due to high demand especially from frontliners who needed someone with expertise to take care of their offspring.
Bank Islam Malaysia Bhd chief economist, Dr Mohd Afzanizam Abdul Rashid said the MCO has presented many business opportunities as these frontline parents would have to work extra-long hours and the social distancing measures would require them to keep a distance from their children.
“I think its lucrative business as the Malaysian population is growing and it has a young population.
“But it has to be reliable and trustworthy. Otherwise, it would be tough to get business with parents resorting to their immediate family,” he told Bernama.
Furthermore, Afzanizam said childcare services would have to be highly-skilled in order to be sustainable.
“Getting the right accreditation would certainly help elevate their credentials and professional standard.
“Degree in early childhood education or academic qualification for taking care of autistic children are some of the areas that will boost their credibility,” he added.
Among the platform offering professional childcare services is “Kiddocare” whereby it provides private childcare assistance to improve the existing gap and problems in the childcare industry.
It's a platform akin to Grab or Uber but for professional childcare services, whereby carers would go to respective houses to provide private childcare assistance.
It is made up of Malaysian women aged 18 and above who have undergone basic childcare training, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and Safety Aid training.
Many of them also hold certificates in Early Childhood Education as well have been vetted in terms of health and safety before joining Kiddocare.
Kiddocare founder and chief executive officer, Nadira Yusoff said the demand for childcare services has been overwhelming not just from the healthcare frontliners but also workers from other essential sectors and those working from home during the MCO.
To date, 80 carers have served the need for childcare services, mainly from healthcare frontliners, giving them peace of mind by providing more than 500 service sessions that have benefitted about 90 children.
She said all carers work on a gig-economy model which allow women who have to juggle family obligations and work, the flexibility of managing their time and income.
“Kiddocare views this as a good entry into entrepreneurship, as it complements our on-going carer development programme and grooming them to become entrepreneurs in childcare,” she said.
Besides, Nadira said this model also works for those whose jobs have been displaced, due to the impact of COVID-19 on certain industries.
“Six of carers have joined us as temporary carers. All currently active carers are encouraged to venture as virtual-carers and learning facilitators, while they look for new opportunities in their core sectors.
“But allowing them to experience working under Kiddocare’s platform, on a gig-model, may open up new opportunities to progress in the childcare and education sector,” she added.
Meanwhile, Afzanizam said while the contribution of gig-workers during the MCO is significant as it allows the economy to continue being in operation, it nevertheless also have disadvantages in terms of being seasonal.
In the short term, it offers an income stream at a time when other jobs have become so limited, but once the MCO is lifted and lives return to normal, the demand for their services will drop.
“In the long run, one has to think about their own social safety net. They need to have long term savings such as Employees Provident Fund (EPF) and insurance like Social Security Organisation (SOCSO).
“So gig economies have to have a formal arrangement so that their welfare may not be worse off compared to their other counterparts,” he added.
-- BERNAMA
Bernama
Thu Apr 30 2020
Among the platform offering professional childcare services is -Kiddocare- whereby it provides private childcare assistance to improve the existing gap and problems in the childcare industry.
Freedom Flotilla to Gaza: Guinea-Bissau akur kepada Israel, tidak beri kebenaran guna bendera bagi misi pelayaran
Kerajaan Republik Guinea-Bissau dilaporkan tunduk dan akur kepada gesaan Israel untuk tidak membenarkan misi pelayaran Break The Siege: Freedom Flotilla to Gaza menggunakan bendera mereka.
Penyakit berkaitan haba dikhuatiri meningkat di Gaza
Penularan penyakit berkaitan haba panas menjadi kebimbangan terbaharu di Gaza selepas suhu luar jangka melampau melanda wilayah itu setiap hari. Ia sudah semestinya diburukkan lagi dengan kekurangan air bersih dan ketiadaan sistem pembuangan sisa pepejal yang sepatutnya wujud di sesebuah kawasan didiami manusia.
Ilhan Omar melawat peserta tunjuk perasaan
Wakil Dewan Perwakilan Amerika Syarikat (AS) Ilhan Omar mengadakan lawatan di kampus penyokong Pro Palestin di Universiti Columbia New York pada Khamis.
Dua lelaki didakwa jadi 'tali barut' kepada China
Dua lelaki yang mana salah seorangnya pernah bertugas di Parlimen United Kingdom (UK) enjalani proses perbicaraan di mahkamah London pada Jumaat selepas didakwa menjadi tali barut menyalurkan maklumat sulit kerajaan kepada negara tembok besar itu.
Polis serbu pejabat 'Save the Children' di Guatemala
Polis Guatemala melakukan serbuan mengejut ke atas pejabat-pejabat Pertubuhan Save the Children di pelbagai lokasi di negara itu. Ia bagi mencari bukti dakwaan pertubuhan yang memperjuangkan kebajikan kanak-kanak itu, terlibat dalam jenayah penderaan terhadap golongan itu.
LIMA '25 dianjurkan pada 20-24 Mei tahun depan
Pameran Maritim dan Aeroangkasa Antarabangsa Langkawi 2025 (LlMA ‘25) akan dianjurkan pada 20 hingga 24 Mei tahun depan bertemakan Innovate Today, Thrive Tomorrow.
Malaysia komited tingkat hubungan dua hala bersama Libya
Malaysia terus komited mempertingkatkan hubungan dua hala yang berterusan bersama Libya demi manfaat bersama dalam pelbagai sektor.
Demi rakyat, Zahid-Muhyiddin henti saman fitnah
Presiden Umno, Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi dan Presiden Bersatu, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin bersepakat untuk menamatkan pertikaian peribadi antara mereka.
Sultan Selangor berangkat ke Majlis Bacaan Yassin di Pangkalan TLDM
Sultan Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah yang juga Kepten Yang Dipertua Tentera Laut Diraja Malaysia (TLDM) berkenan berangkat ke Pangkalan TLDM Lumut di Perak bagi menghadiri Majlis Bacaan Yasin, Tahlil dan Khutbah Khas sempena Sambutan Hari TLDM ke-90.
PM Anwar pulangkan elaun Pengerusi Khazanah
Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim memaklumkan beliau memulangkan elaun sebagai pengerusi Khazanah Nasional Berhad yang diterimanya dan sekali lagi menegaskan tidak menerima gaji bagi jawatan Perdana Menteri yang disandangnya sejak November 2022.