Last week, a group of chief executives from the private sector launched the ‘CEO Forum for Children’, with a view to pay greater attention to and integrate the rights and wellbeing of children in their internal policies. This is a significant development considering how corporate policies can have lifelong consequences on the health of children. The forum, which brings together top executives from leading private firms across the country, is expected to promote child-friendly policies in the corporate world. From addressing issues around maternity leave and employment of women of childbearing age to creation of family-friendly workplaces and allowing employees to give their children the best possible start in life, the forum is an important ally in efforts toward quality childcare services. Beyond being a corporate social responsibility endeavour, the development is morally the right thing to do, while it’ll also directly benefit the companies as well as help advance the rights of children and their female employees. But it’s also a matter of national interest as improved early childcare and family-friendly workplaces lead to improved productivity of citizens – now and in the future. In a related development, two mining companies in Burera District, Northern Province, earlier this month launched Early Children Development (ECD) centres, which will offer on-site childcare services to children of their employees and from nearby communities. This is the first time that any company in the local Extractive Industries has set up a proper ECD facility – with similar initiatives previously recorded primarily in the tea sector. As aptly explained by some of the beneficiaries, early childcare programmes at their workplaces afford them a peace of mind since their young children are in safe hands, which allows them to focus on work with improved productivity. Employer-supported ECD centres offer integrated services in a sense that, beyond provision of safety and early learning spaces, they provide a balanced diet to children, as well as help them grow in terms of social skills and cognitive development. Both initiatives represent an important step towards promoting the rights of children and creating a conducive work environment for women. Most importantly, it is a win-win for all parties involved. We call on other corporate employers and sectors to join this noble cause.
