TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) Tuesday (July 2) promoted the city's programs and incentives to increase the birth rate.
In response to declining birth rates in Taipei, Chiang launched the country's highest maternity bonus in 2023, doubling the incentive for a couple's first child from NT$20,000 (US$1,200) to NT$40,000, offering NT$45,000 for the second child, and NT$50,000 for the third child. His administration has also organized various social events for singles, reported UDN.
In 2023, Taipei launched several measures under the "Happy Birth, Supported Parenting, and Good Living" project to encourage childbirth. These incentives include increased cash bonuses, subsidies for transportation to maternity services, various parenting support services, and promoting family-friendly workplace policies.
Births did increase last year compared to the previous year. The Department of Civil Affairs said in 2022, Taipei's birth rate was 0.845%, with 14,528 births, while in 2023, these figures rose to 0.97% and 16,027.
Kuomintang (KMT) Taipei City Councilor Chan Wei-yuan (詹為元) told UDN that increasing birth incentives is a hallmark policy of Chiang's and claimed it has positively impacted Taipei's population growth. He claimed that for parents living in Taipei, the subsidies help reduce economic pressure and encourage them to have children.
Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) City Councilor Chang Wen-Chieh (張文潔), a mother, said that the increase in birth rates is not solely due to cash incentives. While the NT$40,000 for the first child provides some relief, couples still express concerns about the shortage of public daycare and nursery services, which affects their willingness to have children.
Chang said the city government needs to create a more child-friendly environment, not just hand out more money.
Taiwan People's Party (TPP) City Councilor Huang Ching-yin (黃瀞瑩) pointed out that doubling the birth incentives is a one-time measure. Chiang's administration should focus on post-birth policies, such as increasing the number of public daycare and nursery facilities, and enhancing the functionality of temporary childcare services, said Huang.
On Tuesday, the Department of Civil Affairs announced that registration is now open for the first to fourth sessions of the "Taipei Love Academy" singles events in the second half of the year.
Chiang said the declining birth rate is a “national security crisis” and increasing the birth rate is a common goal for both the central and local governments, reported EBC News. He emphasized that various support services, such as the NT$8,000 taxi subsidy for pregnant women and doubled birth incentives, will be provided to help young people and those who want to start families.
Starting from July 28, a total of 25 sessions of about 40 people each will be held featuring activities such as flower arranging, swing dance, board games, cooking, fragrance making, escape rooms, and short excursions, reported Liberty Times. Lin Feng-yu (林峯裕), director of the Population Policy Division, said around 50% of people found matches at past events.
In September, there will be a joint wedding event, and Chiang said everyone is invited to join in the celebration.
