The number of births in Taiwan in 2020 is at a record low.Today(23) the Executive Yuan decided that the children aged 0 to 6 will be raised by the government together! the maternity pension will be increased from the current NT$2500 to NT$3500 from August, and to NT$5000 in August next year.
In addition, it was orginally rule that an additional subsidy, NT$1000, would not be paid until the third child, but now the application eligibility is reduced to the second child.The Ministry of Education pointed out that in order to solve the declining birth rates. President Tsai had proposed the “0 to 6-year-old childcare” policies during her first term. From 2017 to 2020, she built public childcare facilities, public kindergartens, and quasi-public nursery schools and other means to implement the policies. Until now, there are about 80,000 places from 0 to 2 years old, and about 180,000 places from 2 to 6 years old had been increased. The policy of expanding the maternity pension has also increased the number of beneficiaries by 610,000.
The policy “0 to 6 raised by the government together” which had been put forward by President Tsai in her second term. After indepth discussions with the Executive Yuan’s Political Committee Member Lin Wanyi, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Health and Welfare, and the Executive Yuan’s Comptroller’s Office, there are three specific approaches proposed. Including the continuous expansion of affordable education, the doubling of the maternity pension, and the reduction of school expenses.
Regarding the expansion of affordable education, it is planned to add about 9,000 public nursery facilities for 0-2 years old within 4 years to 2024, and an additional 55,000 places for public kindergartens from 2 to 6 years old.
Regarding the doubling of the maternity pension, the payment amount will be increased in two stages. From August this year, the monthly payment would be increased to NT$3500 and to NT$5000 in August next year. In addition, it was orginally rule that an additional subsidy, NT$1000, would not be paid until the third child, but now the application eligibility is reduced to the second child. The number of beneficiaries is estimated to exceed 870,000.
At the same time, the range of recipients of the maternity pension has also been extended. Starting from August this year, families who are receiving the subsidies of the unpaid parental leave system or other disadvantaged subsidies can also apply for the allowance. For children aged 5 to 6 who study in general private kindergartens, the subsidy for school attendance is also based on the allowance.
In terms of the reduction of school expenses, for children studying in public and quasi-public nursery institutions, the fees will be reduced in two stages.
Starting in August this year, children under the age of 2 who are sent to public childcare centers, community homes, and quasi-public childcare centers and babysitters the subsidy will be increased by NT$1,000 per month, and the total amount will reach NT$7,000. Add NT$1,500 to reach NT$8,500 in next year August!
In addition, for children aged 2 to 6 in public and quasi-public kindergartens, starting from August this year, parents’ monthly payment will be reduced by another NT$1,000, and another NT$500 will be reduced in August next year. After assistance plus reductions and exemptions, the maximum monthly payment will not exceed NT$3000.
In terms of overall funding, the Ministry of Education pointed out that the funding will increase from NT$15.4 billion in 2016 to NT$55.7 billion this year, and to NT$85 billion by 2023.
Executive Yuan Lin Wanyi said at a press conference after the meeting that Taiwan’s fertility rate has continued to decline, and the number of births in 2020 will drop to 165,249, a record low. For the first time, negative population growth had occurred. To stop this, President Tsai and the premier of the Executive Yuan Su Zhenchang asked the relevant ministries to find ways to increase the fertility rate and increase their efforts in related policies.
