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Taiwan boosts childcare support: new subsidies announced
Vice President Lai Ching-te unveils plans to expand "National child care policy for ages 0-6" to ease family burdens. Increased subsidies for childcare costs and focus on early childhood education highlighted to address declining birth rates and support families with children.2024/03/26 13:52 -
Skepticism over university department mergers in Taiwan
In Taiwan, private universities like Tamkang University are merging departments due to declining student numbers and birth rates. Experts question the effectiveness of these mergers while education groups call for government support to maintain teaching quality and protect teacher and student rights.2024/01/22 17:36 -
Yunlin boosts subsidies to tackle low birth rates
Yunlin County plans to increase childbirth subsidies in four townships starting January 1, 2024, as part of efforts to boost birth rates. Dongshi Township, Citong Township, Dounan Town, and Erlun Township will offer subsidies of NT$20,000, NT$12,000, NT$10,000, and NT$6,000 respectively. The county government is also working on further augmenting childbirth allowances. Currently, seven townships in Yunlin County provide additional childbirth or nutritional subsidies, as the county has seen a decline in newborns from 3,340 in 2022 to 2,939 by November 2023. With 11 townships reporting fewer than 100 newborns, the declining birth rates are a wider issue affecting the entire region. Yunlin County Commissioner Chang Li-shan recognizes Taiwan’s demographic crisis and emphasizes the county’s proactive approach in addressing the challenge, with more details on enhanced benefits for expecting families to be announced soon.2023/12/12 11:38 -
Taiwan’s low frozen egg usage spurs reproduction laws debate
In Taiwan, an increase in egg freezing among women aged 35 to 39 sparks discussions on amending the Assisted Reproduction Act as lawmakers push for inclusive reproductive rights amid low egg utilization rates and a declining birth rate.2023/12/08 17:11 -
Chiayi residents least likely to marry in Taiwan: survey
Chiayi City Councilor Cheng Kuang-hung has raised concerns about the declining birthrate in Chiayi and the city’s residents being the least willing to marry compared to other Taiwanese cities. A survey conducted in 2018 with over 8,000 Taiwanese netizens revealed that the number of newborns in Chiayi has been consistently decreasing over the past decade. In 2014, there were 2,100 newborns, but by September 2023, the figure had dropped to 845. Unmarried individuals aged 25-44 accounted for more than half of the population in Chiayi, with 52.52% being unmarried. Men in this age group had a higher unmarried rate of 58.86% compared to women at 46.37%. Cheng suggested that government policies and budget allocations should be redirected towards encouraging early marriage and childbirth instead of focusing solely on post-marriage childbirth subsidies and childcare. Academia Sinica also recommended promoting marriage and procreation at younger ages to address the declining birth rates. The Executive Yuan established a dedicated office in 2018 to combat the declining birthrate, investing over NT$40 billion in recent years.2023/11/16 20:38 -
Taiwanese schools start new school year with sole student
Amid declining birth rates, an elementary school in Miaoli and a Yunlin school welcome only one new student each. Enrollments drop, leading to class mergers.2023/08/30 16:22 -
Declining birth rate hits university-area rental market
Taiwan’s declining birth rates reshape the rental housing market around universities. High vacancy rates prompt landlords to cut prices to attract tenants amidst the changing landscape.2023/08/17 23:22 -
Taiwan youth labor force declines as birth rate drops
More and more businesses in Taiwan have felt the impact of the nation’s declining birthrate as youth employment rates in the labor market continue to drop.2023/01/20 08:00