Civic Group Praises Parental Leave Push, Cautions on Limited Effect of Growth Allowance

(CNA, Taipei, May 20, by reporter Wu Hsin-yun) In response to the challenge of a low birth rate, the government plans to promote measures such as childcare leave and a growth allowance for ages 0 to 18. A civic group said today that it commends the government's willingness to bear the political cost of pushing for childcare leave to guide businesses toward creating family-friendly workplaces, but noted that the growth allowance would have a limited effect on increasing the birth rate. To enhance policies addressing the low birth rate, Premier Cho Jung-tai announced yesterday a comprehensive support plan for ages 0 to 18. This includes upgrading flexible parental leave to "childcare leave" with eligibility extended to age 6, and more reasonable planning for marriage, maternity, and paternity leave. President Lai Ching-te also stated today that a growth allowance of NT$5,000 per person per month would be provided for ages 0 to 18. In response to the government's proposed measures, the civic group Alliance for Childcare and Employment Policies (TCEPA) issued a statement commending the government for acknowledging that many dual-income families are trapped in time poverty, but also raised two reminders concerning the growth allowance and maternity leave extension. TCEPA stated that whether it's the major overhaul upgrading flexible parental leave to childcare leave or the currently planned substitute worker allowance, the essence is to guide businesses at all levels to transform into family-friendly workplaces and support parents in having more time. However, this could trigger dissatisfaction among some employers, managers, and non-parenting workers, making it a "highly difficult reform." But TCEPA pointed out that without reform, overworked Taiwan can never create "compatibility" between work and parenting. Numerous studies have repeatedly emphasized that this compatibility is a prerequisite for a rebound in the birth rate. The ruling party's willingness to pay the political cost, appease opposition, and guide corporate transformation is a courageous decision. However, TCEPA also said it does not oppose the 0-18 growth allowance but believes its effect on the birth rate will certainly be limited. Poland in Eastern Europe launched a similar "Family 500+" policy 10 years ago, with a monthly amount similar to Taiwan's and provided up to age 18. Yet, Poland's total fertility rate only rebounded from less than 1.3 to 1.45 before continuing to decline after two years, proving that cash handouts do not solve numerous structural root problems. Furthermore, regarding the Executive Yuan's plan to initiate reforms on maternity and paternity leave, TCEPA reminded that this must be based on gender equality. Japan and South Korea successively extended paternity leave to 4 weeks because they believe women should not be isolated in caring for newborns during the difficult postpartum period, and men should also learn to "co-parent" from the child's birth. The governments of Japan and South Korea both realized that advocating for both parents to enter the "rookie village" of parenting challenges together is a key step in encouraging men to change. TCEPA emphasized that looking at developed countries globally that have been able to maintain reasonable fertility rates