Flexible Parental Leave: Male Applicants Outnumber Women for First Time; Minister Says Policy Promotes Fatherhood Involvement

(Central News Agency, Taipei, June 3) The new flexible parental leave system took effect at the beginning of this year, and in May, the proportion of male applicants surpassed female applicants for the first time. Minister of Labor Hung Shen-yen stated today that the flexible parental leave system has truly encouraged many fathers to participate in childcare, calling it "a very important piece of good news."

The Social Welfare and Health Environment Committee of the Legislative Yuan reviewed draft amendments to the Gender Equality in Employment Act and the Employment Insurance Act. Hung Shen-yen and Deputy Minister of Health and Welfare Lu Chien-teh attended to respond to inquiries. The agenda for the day only included Q&A sessions, not article-by-article review.

In an interview with the media before the meeting, Hung stated that the flexible parental leave system, implemented in January, had accumulated over 24,000 applications by May. He noted that in May, the proportion of male applicants exceeded female applicants for the first time, indicating the system has truly promoted fathers' participation in childcare, which is "a very important piece of good news."

Regarding the amendments to the Gender Equality in Employment Act and the Employment Insurance Act, Hung said he hopes the revisions will change the daily application for parental leave into "childcare leave," increase the number of days, and raise the age limit for eligible children, further promoting equality in childcare between parents.

The China Times reported that a recent driver position advertised by the Ministry of Labor offered a monthly salary of NT$29,220 to NT$39,270, with the lower end falling below the current minimum wage of NT$29,500 and not meeting the Directorate-General of Personnel Administration's guideline that "the monthly salary for central government entry-level employees should be at least 1.1 times the minimum wage."

In response, Hung explained that there was indeed a typo in the driver recruitment brochure, which was taken down immediately upon discovery yesterday. He further emphasized that all contracted employees of the Ministry of Labor, including janitors and outsourced workers, comply with the Executive Yuan's requirement that starting salaries be at least 1.1 times the minimum wage (equivalent to NT$32,450), and there is absolutely no violation of the minimum wage law. (Editor: Lin Chia-hsien) 1150603