Fostering flexible workplace environments and encouraging men to participate in childcare are key to boosting birthrates, as it is mostly women who face challenges in balancing careers and family planning, Deputy Minister of Health and Welfare Lin Ching-yi (林靜儀) said today.
Minister of Health and Welfare Chiu Tai-yuan (邱泰源) on Saturday last week outlined four strategies to address declining national birthrates.
These include reducing the burden of childcare, improving mother-child health, funding more childcare facilities and public housing for new parents, and increasing people’s willingness to get married and have children, Chiu said.
Photo: Chu Pei-hsiung, Taipei Times
Chiu said encouraging matchmaking activities could help with the last strategy, which drew public criticism.
Developed countries often face declining birthrates, as people have more choices regarding their life path, Lin told reporters before attending a session of the Legislative Yuan’s Social Welfare and Environmental Hygiene Committee today.
The ministry has been promoting family-friendly environments, subsidies for assisted reproduction and supportive workplaces so that families with children or who want children can have social support, she said.
Lin said it is mostly women who face challenges related to balancing their careers and family planning.
If more men can proactively participate in childcare and if workplace environments are more flexible, then there would be more opportunities to increase the birthrate, she said.
Responding to criticism that she is unfit for her position after voicing support for the recall movement, Lin said that outside of her work, she is also a citizen, and she and civic groups encourage and support each other.
She said she is focused on doing her job well each day and would respect the Executive Yuan’s authority if it decides to reshuffle the Cabinet.
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