President William Lai (賴清德) yesterday pledged to universally improve the quality of childcare in Taiwan to help ensure that children grow up healthy and happy.
Lai wished mothers across the country a happy Mother’s Day for Sunday at a meeting of the Democratic Progressive Party’s Central Standing Committee in Taipei.
Allowing every child to grow up happy, safe and with adequate care is the shared goal and responsibility of families, the government and society as a whole, Lai said.
Photo: Chen Cheng-yu, Taipei Times
Lai said that regulations governing the childcare industry would be increased to ensure that childcare workers are adequately qualified and fulfil their duties.
The government must ensure that children receive proper care, parental involvement is enhanced and parental rights are enhanced, he said.
Mothers around the world provide unconditional love and care for their children to grow up happy and healthy, Lai said, adding that he hopes society would show mothers the gratitude and appreciation they deserve every day, not only on Mother’s Day.
Traditional gender roles and associated stereotypes are a thing of the past, and housekeeping and raising children are not limited to women, he added.
Before a child turns three, either parent can apply for two years of parental leave, for which they can claim allowances and remain enrolled in the labor insurance scheme, he said.
With the trends toward families with two working parents and fewer children continue, the government must improve childcare subsidies and parenting allowances, he said.
The Executive Yuan has approved a draft youth basic act that would facilitate youth development and encourage greater youth participation in public affairs, Lai said.
The bill would make sure that young people’s voices can be heard and are reflected in government policy, he added.
It would provide localized support services to encourage young people to remain in their hometowns, as well as developing housing and family policies to protect their housing rights, he said.
Children and young people are invaluable to the nation’s future, he said.
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