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Taipei County firms to be compensated for maternity leave

In an effort to protect the rights of pregnant women, Taipei County yesterday launched a program to provide small businesses with financial and labor assistance to compensate them for employees taking maternity leave.

"The number of pregnancy discrimination cases in Taiwan is soaring. Take the situation in Taipei County, for example: Pregnancy discrimination cases made up over 50 percent of the 155 employment discrimination cases reported last year," Taipei County's Bureau of Labor Affairs Director General Ailan Tsao (曹愛蘭) told a press conference yesterday.

Under the program, entitled the "Manpower Substitution Plans for Maternity Leave," small businesses in Taipei County with fewer than 30 employees can apply for financial aid if an employee is on maternity leave.

In addition to compensation of NT$7,900 per month for up to two months, the bureau will provide a short-term manpower-searching service to employers, Tsao said.

Lee Jyi-kuo (李集國), a section chief at the Council of Labor Affairs' working conditions department, applauded the program.

"Despite the passage of the Gender Equality in Employment Law (兩性工作平等法), we still see a lot of flaws in enforcing the law. I think this program is very creative and practical. The Council of Labor Affairs will consider adopting the [Taipei County] plan if it is proven to be successful," Lee said.

Liu Mei-chun (劉梅君), professor of the Institute for Labor Research at National Chengchi University, said that, although the program's efforts to prevent discrimination against pregnant women are laudable, improving pregnant women's working conditions should not be the sole responsibility of local governments.

"The central government should conduct a thorough review of the Labor Standards Law (勞基法). Policies related to maternity leave, such as the amount of maternity pay women are entitled to, will need to be examined in detail," Liu said.

Liu said that financial and manpower issues are two major concerns for employers when employees go on maternity leave.

Only a plan that addresses both these issues can create a win-win situation for both pregnant employees and their employers, Liu said.

Taipei County's program will be in place until Aug. 31. Eligible companies can apply for compensation any time between two months before workers give birth and the first week of their maternity leave. Employers are limited to two applications.

Tsao said that the bureau will consider extending the program if it is successful.

For more detailed information, call the Taipei County Bureau of Labor Affairs at 2393-6637, or visit its Web site at www.labor.tpb.gov.tw.
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