At the Cabinet's weekly meeting Thursday, Premier Su Tseng-chang received a Ministry of Education briefing on the government's child care policy for children ages 0-6. The next phase of this policy will make education and care even more affordable for families by allowing, for instance, an additional NT$1,000 (US$33) deduction from monthly costs at public and quasi-public child care facilities. Childrearing allowances will also be raised gradually to NT$5,000 (US$166) per month and expanded to cover children up to age 6. These measures will provide more complete and comprehensive care to the children of Taiwan, the premier said.
Since 2018, President Tsai Ing-wen's administration has implemented a formal policy response to the declining birth rate that aims to create a supportive childrearing environment and ease the burden on families. And in August 2019, the government rolled out wider measures for affordable education and care services while expanding coverage of childrearing subsidies. So far, some 400,000 schooling opportunities have been provided at affordable infant care centers and preschools. The number of children benefiting from childrearing allowances has also jumped more than threefold from 260,000 in 2016 to 870,000 in 2019.
Starting this year, children ages 2-3 not yet enrolled in preschool who remain in the care of nannies or child care centers will continue receiving NT$3,000 (US$100) or NT$6,000 (US$200) in child care subsidies.
Over the past three-plus years, the administration has expanded child care subsidies, lowered the tax burden on families with children, provided rent subsidies to newlywed couples and young families, and even subsidized the replacement of school buses, providing the strongest support ever in Taiwan's history for families with young children, the premier said.