Taipei, July 1 (CNA) The Executive Yuan on Thursday proposed a number of amendments to existing laws that will increase the number of days available for prenatal check-ups, while also allowing both parents to take parental leave at the same time.
Currently, the Act of Gender Equality in Employment stipulates a maximum five days of paid leave for prenatal health checks.
According to the proposed amendment, passed during a Cabinet meeting Thursday, the number of paid leave days would be increased to seven.
The Cabinet also proposed amending Article 19 of the Act of Gender Equality in Employment so those hired by employers with fewer than 30 employees can ask for more flexible working hours to take care of their children.
Currently, only those hired by employers with 30 employees or more can make such a request.
The Cabinet also proposed removing Article 22 of the same act which stipulates an employee cannot apply for parental leave if his or her spouse is unemployed, without "justifiable reason."
This is intended to ensure both parents share responsibility for taking care of their child or children, according to the Cabinet.
Meanwhile, the Cabinet also wants to delete Article 19-2 of the Employment Insurance Act, which stipulates that parents cannot both take parental leave at the same time and claim part of their salary for the duration of the leave.
To ensure public servants and military personnel enjoy the same treatment, the Cabinet also proposed amending the Act of Assignment for Officers and Noncommissioned Officers of the Armed Forces, Act of Military Service for Volunteer Enlisted Soldiers, Act of Insurance for Military Personnel and the Public Functionaries Insurance Act.
The Cabinet's proposed amendments still have to clear the Legislative floor to take effect.
According to Premier Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌), the measures provide a better child-raising environment for parents in Taiwan amid the dwindling birthrate in the country and are part of government policy approved by the Cabinet in May, which earmarks NT$9.1 billion (US$326.27 million).
A number of such policies, not requiring amendments to existing laws, took effect on Thursday, including increasing paid parental leave for up to six months before a child reaches three years from 60 percent to 80 percent of the person's insured salary.
Meanwhile, the regulations pertaining to parental leave have also been revised and took effect the same day.
Parents are no longer required to opt for six-month blocks of parental leave but rather will be able to apply for one to six months off until a child reaches the age of three years.
The government measures also expand National Health Insurance coverage for infertility treatment, which is currently only available for low and middle-income married couples.
