TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Ministry of Labor on Wednesday proposed extending paid parental leave benefits to seven months to encourage greater participation by fathers in childcare.
The amendments to the Employment Insurance Act would remove the upper age limit for enrollment and extend parental leave benefits, per CNA. If both parents each receive six months of benefits, they would be eligible for an additional month, promoting shared childcare responsibilities.
Currently, employees with children under three can take up to two years of unpaid parental leave, with six months eligible for benefits equal to 80% of their insured salary. The draft amendment would conditionally extend the duration of these benefits.
Chen Mei-nu (陳美女), director-general of the Department of Labor Insurance, said the measure aims to promote gender equality within families. It would also apply if one parent is covered by civil service or military insurance or if one parent has died, ensuring financial support for single parents.
More than 93,000 people received parental leave benefits and salary subsidies last year, with male participation rising from 19.99% in 2021 to 27.01% last year. Total disbursements reached NT$14.387 billion (US$461 million), and around 22,000 people are expected to benefit from the additional month in 2024, costing roughly NT$660 million.
The amendments would also introduce a “name-and-shame administrative penalty” mechanism. Employers violating the Employment Insurance Act would have their company names, responsible persons, violations, and penalties publicly disclosed.
In 2024, the most common violations involved failure to enroll employees in insurance, with more than 2,800 cases, while there were two cases of inaccurate reporting.
