Taiwan is to launch a pilot program for flexible parental leave later this year at the earliest, the Ministry of Labor said on Wednesday.
The ministry is developing a “small-scale trial” for flexible natal leave that businesses and government offices can join voluntarily, Department of Labor Standards and Equal Employment Director Huang Wei-chen (黃維琛) said.
The program would be conducted in accordance with regulations, which entitle workers with children under the age of three to accumulate up to two years of unpaid parental leave without losing their jobs, Huang said.
Photo: CNA
Additionally, workers are entitled to a child-rearing subsidy over six months, she said.
People employed in private enterprises and government agencies that take part in the program would be able to take leave in blocks of five to seven days from their two-year quota, instead of being required to use at least one month at a time, she said.
The ministry is in discussions with agencies on policy details, including the appropriate procedures for giving out the child-rearing subsidy, Huang said.
The idea of flexible parental leave faces significant resistance from Taiwanese enterprises due to concerns over potential complications in human resource management, she said.
The trial program would test that objection by including people employed in professions that do not follow the regular work week of Monday to Friday, she said, adding that information collected from the test would be valuable for policymaking.
Government offices and private enterprises that take part in the experiment can drop out should they experience significant operational difficulties as a result of allowing flexible parental leave, she said.
The trial program would probably run for six months, Huang added.
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