Building a social security network and raising citizens' sense of happiness are top priorities on the government's policy agenda, Premier Mao Chi-kuo said today after hearing the Ministry of Health and Welfare's (MOHW) report on the results of social welfare policies over the past eight years.
To uphold President Ma Ying-jeou's ideals of social justice and sustainable welfare, the executive branch has been building a comprehensive social security network for the old, the very young, the disabled and the vulnerable. The premier commended the MOHW and other agencies for implementing these programs and policies, which over the years have helped to stabilize the society, support families and take care of the disadvantaged.
As the nation faces challenges of demographic aging, family care and childrearing, central and local governments should build community assistance networks, connect with local social enterprises, and establish multidisciplinary integration systems, Mao urged. Policies should also be based on compassion and concern for the disadvantaged so as to enhance the well-being of wider society.
To encourage childbirth and reduce the burden of childrearing, the government has provided childcare subsidies to double-income households since 2008, and child-raising allowance to families of unemployed parents since January 2012, the MOHW reported. Subsidies for unpaid parental leave have also been provided since May 2009 to help working parents balance their jobs and family obligations.
In caring for the underprivileged, the MOHW's Immediate Assistance Program since August 2008 has provided relief and short-term emergency living subsidies to disadvantaged households. A 2010 amendment to the Public Assistance Act expanded welfare eligibility to include more lower-middle-income households, and adjusted the method for calculating minimum living expense levels. Taking effect July 1, 2011, this amendment has brought social welfare benefits to 690,843 people in low and lower-middle-income households, increasing the number of beneficiaries by 1.5 times.
In addition, the national pension program was launched on October 1, 2008, offering a financial safety net to those without other social insurance coverage. On January 1, 2009, the country's labor insurance program began offering old-age pension benefits, disability pension benefits and survivor pension benefits. As of October 2015, the program had paid out over NT$390.58 billion (US$11.9 billion) in pension benefits to more than 729,000 people.
In preparation for an aged society, the MOHW released a white paper outlining comprehensive policies for Taiwan's rapidly graying population, ranging from setting up more local care stations so senior citizens can enjoy twilight years in their own communities, to building a long-term care system of diverse, accessible and affordable services. As of October 2015, a total of 167,267 senior citizens had received long-term care, accounting for 34.3 percent of the elderly population and fulfilling targets set out in the National 10-year Long-term Care Plan.
The MOHW has also endeavored to promote long-term care laws. The Long-term Care Services Act was promulgated on June 3, 2015 and will be implemented in June 2017. A draft of the Long-term Care Insurance Act is currently pending legislative review.