Workplace flexibility contributes to increased birthrate according to the Minister's viewpoint.
Taiwan is taking a multi-faceted approach to address its declining birthrate, focusing on reducing childcare burdens on women, encouraging male participation, and fostering flexible workplaces.
The government is promoting flexible workplace environments to help employees balance family life and work obligations. Companies like Shimadzu are adopting flexible work styles and other work-life balance initiatives to create comfortable working environments [2][4].
To encourage male participation in childcare, the government is indirectly influencing this through workplace policies that enable shared family responsibilities. These policies include normalizing paternity leave and flexible hours, though specific government details on male participation are less explicit in the available data [4].
Addressing broader social factors linked with childcare burden is also a key focus. Easing housing challenges is seen as critical for supporting family formation and child-rearing [3].
While wide-scale government programs specifically targeting childcare burden reduction on women and male participation were not detailed, the emphasis on flexible work options and reducing overtime signals a strategic focus on enabling parents, including fathers, to be more involved in childcare. This, combined with broader social support policies such as housing reform, forms the backbone of Taiwan's approach to tackling the low birthrate issue [2][3][4].
In addition, Taiwan is addressing the challenge of its super-aged society by promoting "aging in place" policies to support older adults while freeing younger generations to participate more fully in the workforce and family life [5].
Cabinet member Chiu has emphasized the importance of improving the nation's healthcare, disease prevention, and social welfare to achieve President William Lai's vision of a healthy Taiwan. Chiu has also stated that encouraging matchmaking activities is not a direct solution to the low birthrate, but it was mentioned in passing as people in developed countries often need more interactions [1].
Minister Lin has faced criticism for voicing support for the recall movement but asserts that she is also a citizen and supports civic groups [6]. Lin has also made it clear that she respects the Executive Yuan's authority in the event of a Cabinet reshuffle [6].
Chiu has been asked to comment on remarks asking for his removal from his post in a Cabinet reshuffle, but he does not mention this request in his response [6].
The challenge of balancing careers and family planning is mostly faced by women, but the comprehensive strategies being implemented in Taiwan aim to address these issues for both parents, regardless of gender.
Companies like Shimadzu are implementing women's health initiatives in the workplace, such as providing resources for reproductive health and support for pregnancy leave [4].
In an effort to support family health and wellness, Taiwan is also considering implementing health-and-wellness programs for employees to improve overall well-being [2].
The government is advocating for policies that promote parenting, including provisions for leave and flexible hours, in order to support the well-being of families and positive outcomes for both parents, particularly women [2].
