Ministry of Labor Extends Application Deadline for Corporate Childcare Subsidies Until September 30

(Central News Agency reporter Wu Hsin-yun, Taipei, 13th) To encourage businesses to become trusted allies in employees' parenting journeys, the Ministry of Labor has enhanced its corporate childcare subsidy program. The initial application deadline was June 15, but due to overwhelming applications and feedback from companies stating insufficient time for internal procedures, the Ministry has announced an extension of the application period until September 30.

According to the Gender Equality in Employment Act, employers with 100 or more employees must provide breastfeeding rooms, childcare facilities, or appropriate alternative measures. Employers offering childcare subsidies or establishing childcare facilities may apply to the Ministry of Labor for financial assistance. This year, the Ministry has allocated an additional budget of NT$140 million to strengthen the subsidy program.

Huang Wei-chen, Director of the Department of Labor Welfare and Pensions at the Ministry of Labor, told CNA reporters that the original application period for subsidies supporting employers in establishing breastfeeding rooms, childcare facilities, or related measures was set to end on June 15. However, statistics show that while there were 477 applications for the entire previous year, over 550 companies have already applied this year.

Huang stated that many companies are still actively inquiring, and some have indicated that internal planning, budgeting, and document preparation require more time than originally anticipated. Therefore, the application period for subsidies will be extended until September 30.

This year, the Ministry of Labor has introduced a new subsidy system to support employers in establishing breastfeeding rooms, childcare facilities, or related measures. Employers can receive up to NT$20,000 for setting up employee breastfeeding rooms and up to NT$5 million for newly constructed childcare facilities. For existing facilities, new subsidies have been added for operational expenses and personnel costs, in addition to facility and equipment funding.

Additionally, employers providing childcare subsidies to employees can receive up to NT$10,000 per employee. Subsidy rates vary by company size: employers with fewer than 100 employees will receive 70% of actual expenses covered. The previous requirement that childcare subsidies were only eligible if employees' children were enrolled in licensed childcare institutions has also been removed. (Editor: Li Heng-shan) 1150613