Select workplaces are to trial single-day parental leave from June through the end of the year, as the Ministry of Labor seeks to provide more flexible caregiving options for parents.
Originally set in intervals of 30 days, the ministry last month launched a trial program recruiting employers to give parents the option to take at least five days off at time for child-rearing duties.
Now, employers willing to do so may also give as short as one day off at a time in a trial program to run throughout the second half of the year, Minister of Labor Hsu Ming-chun (許銘春) told a meeting of the legislature’s Social Welfare and Environmental Hygiene Committee on Monday.
Photo: CNA
The economic affairs and transportation ministries, as well as agencies under the labor and health ministries have agreed to participate, Hsu said.
Industry organizations, science parks and banks have also expressed interest in taking part, she said, adding that eight public agencies and 55 private entities plan to participate.
Meetings were held on Jan. 17 and 24 to discuss parental leave options, with most stakeholders saying they want more flexibility, Hsu said.
Under regulations that went into effect in July 2021, parents may receive public subsidies covering up to 80 percent of their average monthly insured pay when taking family leave, she said.
Labor ministry data show that from its implementation through February, more than 243,000 people have benefitted from subsidies totaling NT$8.95 billion (US$278.77 million).
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