PETALING JAYA: The move to allow women civil servants to take up to five years' unpaid leave to care for their children is another effort to help working women, said Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil.

"I am sure this effort is good news to all women civil servants. The additional unpaid maternity leave clearly reflects the government's commitment to fight for the women's development agenda towards creating a balance between family and work life," the Women, Family and Community Development Minister said in a statement yesterday.

She was commenting on Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak's announcement that women civil servants could now take a total of five years' unpaid leave to look after their children.

She said that creating a conducive work environment, which was "family friendly," was important to ensure that women remained in the workforce.

Wanita MCA deputy chief Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun welcomed the announcement, saying that it gave working mothers an option to consider.

"They will not risk losing their jobs while taking time off to look after their babies," she said.

"Working mothers are not the only ones happy as fathers too will share the joy," she said.

She called on the private sector to emulate such a move by implementing flexible working hours for working mothers.

Cuepacs president Omar Osman said that while he welcomed the move as it allowed families to be closer, a mechanism should be put in place to ensure that service to the people was not disrupted.

He said problems like shortage of staff and having other employees burdened with additional work could occur.

He also expressed concern that women who took unpaid leave may find it hard to get back to their jobs after being away for a long period, adding that families may face financial difficulties with the husbands being the sole breadwinner.

MTUC president Syed Shahir Syed Mohamud said the move was "something new" which needed to be looked at seriously and thoroughly.

However, he said the concept needed to be clear so that the public would know it was not mere rhetoric from the Government.

Seputeh MP Teresa Kok, while supporting the move, said it would be problematic when it came to implementation.

She also cautioned that the mother could "lose touch" with work after a long break.