Labor minister unveils plan to support working women

TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The Minister of Labor, He Pei-shan, announced plans on Thursday (May 23) to alleviate the burden of family care responsibilities that disproportionately affect women.

This initiative aims to address the challenges faced by female workers, particularly after marriage and childbirth, which result in a lower labor participation rate compared to neighboring countries like Japan and South Korea.

Addressing the Legislative Yuan's Social Welfare and Environmental Hygiene Committee, He emphasized the ministry's focus on promoting a balance between work and family responsibilities and encouraging employers to create a family-friendly workplace environment.

In Taiwan, traditional societal norms often place the responsibility of family care on women, leading many to sacrifice their careers.

Legislator Huang Hsiu-fang highlighted that the labor participation rate of Taiwanese women post-marriage and childbirth declined significantly, with women over 50 facing even greater challenges in re-entering the workforce compared to their counterparts in Japan and South Korea.

The ministry is considering implementing systems for parental and caregiving leave, including care leave, which has garnered attention from many legislators. Additionally, the possibility of integrating migrant workers into the long-term care system as supplementary service providers is being explored to help ease the caregiving burden on women.

This initiative represents a significant step towards creating a more inclusive and supportive work environment for women in Taiwan. It acknowledges the need to address the dual challenges of employment and family care.