The Indonesian vice president's wife, Mufidah Yusuf Kalla, visited a day care at a private company in South Jakarta on Thursday, saying she hoped other companies would run similar programs.

Few companies in Jakarta provide day care for their employees.

"I only recommend that the program added more spiritual activities for the children to make it more balanced with technology, art and culture," Mufidah Yusuf Kalla said.

Every year, PT Unliever provides a day care program ahead of the Idul Fitri holiday. Employees can enroll their children in the program to be looked after while they work.

This year, 9-year-old Viro enjoyed his holiday. He said he had so much fun at the day care center in South Jakarta.

"Usually I stay with my maid at home. But she was in her home town to celebrate Idul Fitri. For the past couple of weeks, my mother has taken me to her office to play with other kids in the day care room. It is more exciting than home," Viro said.

Thio, another boy, feels the same. The 8-year-old prefers to spend his time in the day care room at his mother's office than at his house with the maid.

"I learn how to cook, we play music and I have many friends here," Thio said.

Thio's mother is an employee of PT Unilever Indonesia. As a mother, she worries about leaving him alone without the maid who usually takes care of him. Luckily, the company has a program for busy parents like her, she said.

Unilever has been providing the Day Care Program for its employees since 2003. Employees who have children between three months and 10 years can entrust their children with the carers.

The facility was established for long holidays such as Idul Fitri, when house maids and baby sisters go to their hometowns for weeks. This year, the program is held from Sept. 22 to Oct. 10, 2008.

Unilever president director Maurits Lalisang said the program was important for employees who had to work and could not leave their children at home.

Unilever needs the program because 51 percent of the company's employees are women, with 30 percent at the managerial level, he said.

"It is the company's responsibility to its employees. It makes the employees able to concentrate more on work without thinking about their children," Maurits saod.

Maurits mentioned the program gave the children new information about technology, art and culture.

"This is a unique program/ Here, the children not only have someone who takes care of them, but they can also learn many things."

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