Council of Labor Affairs (CLA) Minister Jennifer Wang (王如玄) yesterday said that about 10 percent of women, either voluntarily or involuntarily, do not return to their old jobs after taking unpaid maternity leave.
Wang made the remarks during an awards ceremony to recognize 20 companies in Taiwan that -provide a friendly working environments for employees.
Companies such as Yang Ming Marine Transport (陽明海運), Chailease Finance Co (中租迪和), China Motor (中華汽車), AU Optronics Corp (友達光電) and Rexchip Electronics Corp (瑞晶電子) engage in good labor practices, the council said.
These companies offer a range of employee-friendly measures, including 30 days of paid leave for women taking pregnancy leave, 15 weeks of paid maternity leave, five days of paid leave for new fathers, paid menstrual leave, flexible holidays and 100 percent retention rate for women coming back to work after taking maternity or pregnancy leave, Wang said.
However, Wang said that while 90 percent of female workers do return to their old jobs after taking unpaid parental leave, about 10 percent do not.
“There are many reasons for leaving [their old jobs after taking unpaid parental leave],” she said. “Some women may voluntarily leave the workplace, but some may want to go back and are unable to.”
Wang said the council plans to monitor the situation on a case-by-case basis and to counsel employers and employees on helping female workers make a smooth transition back into the workplace after a long period of leave from work.
The council also vowed to encourage businesses to allow worker to take leave to care for family members without influencing bonuses for full work attendance.
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