REPORTER:  

On January first, most workers are enjoying their day off. But when they come back, some new welfare policies will be in place.

Starting with an increase in the country’s minimum wage.

Over the past decade, Taiwan’s monthly minimum wage has steadily risen by over 47 percent, and hourly wages have gone up by 63 percent. The labor ministry says it’ll benefit over two million domestic and foreign workers.

REPORTER:  

And for parents with children under three, there are additional benefits.

Working parents can now take short parental leave for family emergencies.

The goal is to make it easier for parents to take time off without fear of losing a job or having to use unpaid leave, something many parents have faced after long breaks.

Small businesses will also receive subsidies for every employee who takes a day of parental leave.

The most immediate labor issue in Taiwan is labor shortage and a declining birth rate.

To juggle taking care of family and children, workers need flexibility.

How to create that flexibility is a crucial task for the future.

That’s why we’re rolling out day-based parental leave and family leave counted by the hour.

REPORTER:  

The original leave system offered a maximum of two years of parental leave before children turn three. Employers would pay workers 80 percent of salaries in the first 6 months.

The new policy means parents can take up to 30 individual days off with FULL pay during that six-month period.

While some parents in Taipei support the 30-day paid leave system, and the flexibility it offers, some say the age restriction is too narrow.

Ms. Chou (RESIDENT OF DAMAGED BUILDING):  

Before, I wasn’t paid for taking time off to take care of my kids.  

If it’s personal leave, it’s unpaid.  

Three to six-year-old kindergarteners actually get sick more often and parents have to take care of them.  

So, I think it’s better to extend the age restriction.

Ms. Lee (PARENT):  

Even now my kids are much older but they still fall ill suddenly.  

If you’re a family without backup help, it’s usually the mother or the father who needs to take time off.  

And if both are in a company where pressure is high or there’s not enough backup, they still have to take time off work, but the pressure is still there.

REPORTER:  

Small businesses will receive just over 30 US dollars per employee on parental leave. It might not sound like much, but one childcare policy expert says it could make a difference when it comes to staffing.

Dr. Wang (CHILDCARE POLICY EXPERT):  

We hope employers won’t monopolize the US$31.  

I mean, US$31 is not a huge sum to them but it could be to other employees who can help take over the job.  

I believe other employees would think, “sure.”  

“I’m now more willing to cover my colleague’s job.”

REPORTER:  

Wang says the labor ministry is still testing the waters with this early policy change and it could go in two directions: one option is six months of fully paid leave, another is expanding coverage beyond children under three.

Whichever way it goes, working parents and those planning families hope it will ease the pressure of raising kids.

Andy Hsueh and Irene Lin in Taipei for TaiwanPlus.