Krisis Kelahiran Nasional: Antara Peralihan Peranan Wanita dari Pembinaan Generasi Masa Hadapan kepada Tenaga Kerja Negara

National birth crisis: Between the shifts in women’s roles from nurturing future generations to the nation's workforce

Abstract

Trend penurunan kadar kelahiran di Malaysia semakin ketara dari tahun ke tahun, sehingga berada di bawah paras penggantian. Fenomena ini menggusarkan semua pihak kerana menyebabkan pengecilan populasi, meningkatkan jurang antara generasi, serta menjejaskan kesinambungan kepimpinan negara pada masa hadapan. Peningkatan penyertaan wanita dalam tenaga buruh turut memberi kesan terhadap penurunan kadar kelahiran, apabila sebahagian wanita memilih untuk menangguhkan perkahwinan, menunda kehamilan pertama, atau menolak konsep memiliki anak dalam perkahwinan. Fokus terhadap kerjaya dan ekonomi keluarga sering kali menyebabkan keutamaan terhadap peranan melahirkan, mendidik dan membesarkan anak berkurangan. Akhirnya menyumbang kepada penurunan kadar kesuburan keseluruhan (TFR). Oleh itu, pengembalian peranan wanita sebagai Rabbatul Bait dan Madrasatul Ula wajar diperkasakan sebagai langkah menyokong keseimbangan peranan wanita dalam institusi keluarga. Inisiatif ini memerlukan perhatian serius daripada kerajaan melalui pembinaan dasar pemerkasaan wanita dan menilai semula sistem kiraan pendapatan isi rumah agar tidak memberi tekanan kepada wanita. Di samping itu, peranan NGO dan masyarakat dalam menyediakan sistem sokongan yang mampan untuk wanita agar dapat memastikan institusi keluarga kembali berpaksikan fitrah Islam yang sebenar.

Declining birth rate trend in Malaysia has become increasingly evident year after year, falling below the replacement level. This phenomenon is a growing concern for all parties, as it leads to population shrinkage, widens the intergenerational gap, and threatens the continuity of national leadership in the future. The increasing participation of women in the labour force has also contributed to the decline in birth rates, as some women choose to delay marriage, postpone their first pregnancy, or reject the idea of having children within marriage. The prioritisation of career advancement and family economic stability often results in diminishing emphasis on women’s roles in bearing, nurturing, and raising children, ultimately contributing to the overall decline in the Total Fertility Rate (TFR). Therefore, the revitalisation of women’s roles as Rabbatul Bait and Madrasatul Ula should be strengthened as a means to support a balanced understanding of women’s responsibilities within the family institution. This initiative requires serious attention from the government through the formulation of women’s empowerment policies and the reassessment of household income calculations to prevent undue pressure on women. In addition, the roles of NGOs and the community are vital in providing a sustainable support system for women to ensure that the family institution realigns with the true Islamic fitrah.