The newly inaugurated IPLAY at Godrej in central offices in Halim, East Jakarta, provides a safe and secure environment for children while their parents are at work, promoting a healthier work-life balance. In addition to offering peace of mind for parents, the daycare also supports early childhood development by enhancing social skills and fostering other positive developmental outcomes.

This initiative represents a strong commitment from the private sector to support the implementation of the Maternal and Child Welfare Law.

The inauguration event on June 18 also featured a panel discussion forum themed “Building Awareness and Employer-Supported Childcare (ESC) Action in Companies”, organized by the Indonesia Business Coalition for Women’s Empowerment (IBCWE) in collaboration with GCPI.

The forum served as a platform for cross-sector strategic dialogue, bringing together government representatives, private sector leaders and development partners to discuss employer-supported childcare services as a vital component of inclusive and sustainable manpower reform.

Moderated by IBCWE executive director Wita Kristanti, the discussion presented key speakers Wahyu Radita from GCPI, Hengky H. Njoto from Unilever Indonesia and Usha Riyanto from Prospera.

IPLAY at Godrej daycare center was opened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony officiated by Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection Minister Arifah Fauzi, Indian Ambassador to Indonesia Sandeep Chakravorty and Business Head GCPI Rajesh Sethuraman.

This milestone reflects the company’s commitment to creating an inclusive workplace that supports work-family life balance by providing access to quality childcare.

Also attending the event were Gender Equality Deputy for Gender Equality at the Ministry of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection, Amurwani Dwi Lestariningsih, the Health Ministry and the East Jakarta Manpower, Transmigration and Energy Office, as well as representatives from Investing in Women, the Indonesian Employers Association (APINDO) and various IBCWE member companies and partners.

The IPLAY at Godrej initiative reinforces the critical role of cross-sector collaboration in building a more family-friendly work ecosystem.

 “Providing employer-supported childcare in the workplace is a key step toward establishing inclusive, family-friendly environments and empowering women in the workforce. Public-private collaboration is essential to strengthening the role of families in society,” said minister Arifatul during the inauguration.

She added, “We hope this good practice will serve as a model for other companies to contribute actively to an inclusive and equitable workforce and to support families. This aligns directly with Law No. 4/2024 on Maternal and Child Welfare, particularly in the first 1,000 days of life.”

Ambassador Chakravorty expressed appreciation for the initiative, saying: “We are grateful to the government of Indonesia and our strategic partners for their continued support. We are committed to creating value for our stakeholders and deepening the Indonesia-India partnership. We hope this collaboration continues to grow and bring mutual progress.”

Managed by professional partners, the IPLAY at Godrej facility is designed as a safe and educational space for early childhood development. Located in GCPI’s Halim headquarters, it is open to the children of employees as well as workers in nearby office buildings and offers daily, weekly and monthly subscription plans.

To meet the needs of working parents, IPLAY at Godrej is equipped with a secure entry system, educational toys and learning materials and serves nutritious food that meets children’s dietary standards.

GCPI recognizes that parenting is a deeply meaningful yet challenging journey. The establishment of IPLAY at Godrej as a permanent on-site daycare facility is part of the broader support system the company provides. Other initiatives include financial assistance for IVF treatment, six months of maternity leave, eight weeks of paternity leave, adoption leave, miscarriage and stillbirth leave and access to the Employee Assistance Program (EAP).

In addition, GCPI provides flexible work arrangements, a post-maternity leave reintegration program and business travel support for working parents with infants aged 0-12 months and caregivers.

“This initiative aligns with GCPI’s commitment to fostering a workplace that embraces the diverse roles of employees throughout all stages of life. We believe that our business success is built on the well-being of our employees,” said GCPI’s Sethuraman.

“By providing this facility and inclusive policies, we not only help parents sustain their careers but also promote gender equity in the workplace, especially in the FMCG sector,” he emphasized.

Following the ribbon-cutting ceremony, the discussion forum delved deeper into the importance of ESC schemes as part of reforms to develop more just and family-friendly manpower policies. The discussion also explored the practical implementation of the Maternal and Child Welfare Law in the workplace.

GCPI’s Radita emphasized the need for cross-sector collaboration to support workplace childcare policies and creating an inclusive, equitable and sustainable workforce.

 “Policies like ESC are not just facilities, they’re part of a supportive work culture where parents, especially women, can thrive without having to choose between career and family,” she said.

Wita of IBCWE highlighted ESC as a reflection of a company’s commitment to empowering employees and supporting working parents, noting that many women resigned due to a lack of workplace support. She added that GCPI’s initiative should serve as a model for other companies aiming to foster better work-family balance.