Taipei: Nongovernmental organization Childcare Policy Alliance on Thursday called on the government to establish universal affordable childcare and more flexible parental leave systems to help boost Taiwan's low birth rates. The NGO emphasized the importance of supporting women to balance work and family as a key factor in increasing birth rates. According to Focus Taiwan, the NGO's spokesperson, Huang Chiao-ling, argued for the expansion of affordable childcare services for children aged 0-12 and the establishment of flexible parental leave systems. These systems would allow employees to take time off in increments of hours or days, potentially increasing male participation in childcare. Huang highlighted that overseas studies have shown the benefits of such policies in balancing gender roles in childcare responsibilities. The NGO criticized the government's current policies, such as the distribution of childcare allowances and the extension of parental leave, labeling them as ineffective. Huang stated tha t the childcare allowance is insufficient for covering long-term care costs and may negatively impact child development, often resulting in women leaving the workforce. Additionally, the current system's minimum 30-day parental leave block is deemed too rigid, lacking the flexibility needed by parents for more spontaneous time off. Huang further argued that the government's focus on women "reentering" the workforce points to a failure in supporting women to remain employed. She suggested that government budgets should be redirected towards more effective policies, as current ones may compel women to leave their jobs. Echoing these sentiments, Secretary-General of the Awakening Foundation Chyn Yu-rung urged the government to consider the specific challenges faced by parents. Instead of merely distributing financial aid, Chyn suggested formulating cross-departmental policies to effectively address family childcare needs.
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