At the Cabinet meeting today, Premier Jiang Yi-huah wished all moms a happy Mother's Day this coming Sunday, expressing his highest respects to hard-working mothers across the nation.
A mother's job is very difficult yet it is one of the noblest callings in life, said the premier. He also noted that women's roles have changed significantly over the years. According to the Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics, the labor force participation rate of women was over 50 percent in Taiwan in 2012; among women with children under 6, this rate was even higher at 63.89 percent. Because working moms shoulder responsibilities in the workplace as well as at home, government and employers must lend more support to help them thrive in both roles, Jiang said.
Toward that end, the Ministry of the Interior, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Economic Affairs, Department of Health and Council of Labor Affairs have implemented numerous programs offering child care and childrearing assistance, subsidies during unpaid parental leave, and long-term care support. The government also urges companies to create family-friendly environments to alleviate mothers of some of the burdens of caring for a family. Jiang asked the agencies to continue developing these initiatives to weave a comprehensive family support and care network.
The premier thanked local authorities for complementing the central government's efforts and for rolling out thoughtful programs to help women in meaningful ways. Lastly, he encouraged everyone to honor mothers through practical means such as sharing household chores, supporting gender equality and helping to foster a family-friendly environment.