TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Since its inception in 2009, Taiwan's "Employment Insurance Parental Leave Allowance" program has aided over 1.01 million people as of July 2023. This initiative by the Bureau of Labor Insurance provides significant support to parents in Taiwan.
The allowance, accessible to both fathers and mothers who have accumulated at least one year of employment insurance, enables parents to take unpaid leave before their child reaches three years of age.
The subsidy is calculated at 60% of the parent's average salary for the six months preceding the start of the leave. Additionally, since July 2021, the Bureau has increased the subsidy by an additional 20%, bringing the total to 80%.
A key update to the program in January 2022 allows both parents to simultaneously apply for the allowance. If they qualify and take leave together, they are eligible for a subsidy for 12 months within a six-month period.
For example, with an average monthly salary of NT＄42,000, each parent can receive NT＄33,600 monthly, amounting to a total of NT＄403,200 for the half-year period.
Furthermore, there has been a notable increase in the number of male applicants. From just 4,000 in its first year, the number has risen to over 20,000 annually, reflecting a growing trend of men taking on more childcare responsibilities.
