People who run in next year’s presidential election should address 10 issues on gender equality, including rectifying the wage gap and making wages above a threshold transparent, civic groups said yesterday.
Taipei City Confederation of Trade Unions executive director Chen Shu-lun (陳淑綸) told a news conference in Taipei ahead of International Women’s Day today that despite policy dictating that men and women in the same position should have the same wage, the average salary for women is lower.
Taiwan should make wages transparent like the EU, Chen said, adding that whoever wins the presidential election should propose policies to address the issues within their first term.
Photo: Yang Yuan-ting, Taipei Times
Other policies should include increasing special leave, reducing work hours, encouraging equal participation of the genders in the workplace and at home, and ameliorating sexual harassment in the workplace, she said.
Awakening Foundation vice chairwoman Chiang Chen-yin (姜貞吟) said that the inability to recuse employers accused of sexual harassment in an ongoing investigation is a legal loophole that presidential candidates should address.
There is administrative overlap between the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Ministry of Education regarding government policies for state care of children aged two to six, the groups said, adding that all such affairs should be transferred to the education ministry.
They also called on the eventual candidates to formulate plans to address long-term health coverage issues and promote the program as soon as possible after they become president.
Women should make up at least one-third of Cabinet members, while women from diverse or disadvantaged backgrounds should be encouraged to participate in politics more, the groups said.
Separately, Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) caucus convener Jang Chyi-lu (張其祿) and other party members at a news conference yesterday urged the government to improve the child-rearing environment in Taiwan.
TPP Legislator Chen Wan-hui (陳琬惠) said that fewer than 100 companies could comply with policies to establish daycare centers for employees’ children.
Aside from two private companies, most daycare centers are run by government units or state-owned companies, she said.
TPP Legislator Lai Hsiang-ling (賴香伶) said that more daycare facilities are needed, especially in densely populated areas, adding that care facilities that operate from 8pm to 8am the next day are also necessary.
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