TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Men accounted for just over half of requests for a flexible parental leave program in May, marking the first time fathers have outnumbered mothers since the policy took effect.
The flexible parental leave system, which allows up to 30 days of leave to be taken, on a daily basis, took effect on Jan. 1. The Ministry of Labor said Tuesday that the latest data shows more fathers are willing to take an active role in childcare, per CNA.
The cumulative number of applicants was close to 12,000, while the number of requests exceeded 24,000. In May, men accounted for 50.3% of requests, “breaking the traditional stereotype that parental leave applications are primarily filed by women,” the ministry said.
Looking at cumulative requests since the start of the program, the proportion of men has risen to 48.4%, while women accounted for 51.6%. The ministry said this indicates a growing trend toward shared childcare responsibilities between parents.
To encourage small and micro enterprises to support employee participation, the ministry offers employer incentives. Companies receive NT$1,000 per day for each employee approved for daily parental leave, with quarterly payments issued via automated matching and direct disbursement.
The ministry said 989 companies qualified for the first-quarter incentive program. Of these, 236 had registered their bank account details with the Bureau of Labor Insurance and received nearly NT$2 million in payments, deposited on May 27.
According to the ministry, more than 70% of eligible employers, 753 companies, have not yet received the subsidy because they have not registered their banking information. The ministry urged employers to complete online registration on the website to enable payment processing.
