Legislature passes parental leave increase

CHANGES: On top of extended leave for both parents, they would also be entitled to childcare leave during school class suspensions and to attend parenting activities

The legislature yesterday passed amendments to the Gender Equality in Employment Act (性別平等工作法) and the Employment Service Act (就業服務法), extending maternity leave from eight to 14 weeks, doubling paternity leave from seven to 14 days and expanding eligibility for unpaid parental leave.

The amendments allow employees to take unpaid parental leave until their child turns nine, rather than three.

Parents would also be allowed to take childcare leave to personally care for a child in cases including illness; the suspension of daycare services or school classes; vaccinations, parenting activities organized by childcare centers, early childhood education and care institutions or schools; or other circumstances requiring parental care.

Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu is pictured at the Legislative Yuan in Taipei yesterday.

Photo: CNA

Such leave would be capped at 60 days per child and count toward the total period of unpaid parental leave.

The seven-day entitlement to leave to accompany a spouse to prenatal checkups remains unchanged.

Paternity leave, which covers time off following childbirth, must be taken within 15 days of the birth.

Under the Employment Insurance Act (就業保險法), employees taking unpaid parental leave are eligible to receive parental leave allowances for up to six months.

The amendments extend the maximum allowance period to nine months, if both parents have each received the full six-month allowance.

Under the law, migrant workers are entitled to maternity leave, but live-in caregivers are not entitled to paid maternity leave.

Similarly, live-in caregivers may take unpaid parental leave, but are not eligible for allowances.

The changes come amid Taiwan’s chronically low birthrate, which is among the lowest in the world.

The amendments are to be submitted to President William Lai (賴清德) for promulgation. The Executive Yuan will then determine when they take effect.