Standard Chartered Bank Nepal Limited (SCBNL) reopens crèche / daycare facility for children of employees

KATHMANDU, June 26: Standard Chartered Bank Nepal Limited (SCBNL) has reopened its crèche / daycare facility for children of employees, at the New Baneshwor corporate office building in Kathmandu. The facility was inaugurated on the 26th of June, 2023 by chief guest Dr. Neelam Dhungana Timsina, Acting Governor of Nepal Rastra Bank, along with Anirvan Ghosh Dastidar, CEO of Standard Chartered Bank Nepal Limited (SCBNL). 

Originally launched in 2013, the Bank’s crèche was temporarily closed due to the pandemic and has been reopened to help create a supportive and inclusive environment that is conducive to professionals, especially working mothers. It is also aimed at helping employees save time and reduce the stress of finding the right care for children in the age group of 6 months to 3 years.

The cost of establishing and maintaining the crèche and the monthly expenses incurred will be borne by the Bank. The launch of the crèche marks an important step towards new ways of working with the Bank’s people-centric focus on enhancing the well-being and productivity of working parents.

Standard Chartered Bank Nepal Limited (SCBNL) is one of the first banks in the country to launch such a facility to help working parents (particularly women) continue their professional journey, without parenthood acting as a deterrent in their career growth. Research has shown that women have the same career ambitions as men at the start and end of their careers, but the drop off is significant when they are in the 30-40 age bracket, given the peaking of family responsibilities during this period. 

Post the daycare inauguration, Dr. Neelam Dhungana Timsina, Acting Governor of Nepal Rastra Bank interacted with the female staff of Standard Chartered Bank Nepal Limited (SCBNL) about the various challenges faced by working women, and what organisations can do to support them. Addressing the staff, she said, “Childcare support could be a great leap to motivate employees and empower women in the workforce.’’

Anirvan Ghosh Dastidar, CEO of Standard Chartered Bank Nepal Limited (SCBNL) said, “Launching a daycare facility within the premises of our head office, where working parents can be in close proximity to their children, reiterates our commitment to our staff’s wellbeing, mental health, and us being a human bank. We believe that the change we want to see happens when we focus on retaining employees and their well-being, which helps create a positive work environment. Being an equal employment opportunity provider, the Bank is committed to supporting our employees, especially working mothers. We firmly believe that Gender equality is a critical factor that will further our success, and hence we are committed to empowering women in the workplace.”

The daycare is said to remain open on all working days and offer full-day support for kids while engaging them in activities in a safe, progressive, and fun environment. Every child will be given individual attention, and the emphasis will be on making them independent and disciplined while ensuring that they stay away from gadgets and interact more with each other through games and other activities, it is stated in the Press Release issued by the bank.