Focus Taiwan
Date: 2018/08/01
By: Ku Chuan and Evelyn Kao
Taipei, Aug. 1 (CNA) A nationwide child care subsidy program that came into effect
Image taken from Pixabay
Wednesday as part of the government’s efforts to reverse Taiwan’s low birth rate has attracted criticism from parents, government-contracted kindergartens and babysitters, citing a failure to publicize relevant measures in advance.
Under the program, parents who qualify will receive a monthly subsidy of NT$6,000 (US$196) for each child up to the age of two who attends a semi-public private kindergarten or are looked after by babysitters who sign a contract with the government.
However, the the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) only unveiled the guidelines on applications for payments to government-contracted baby care service providers on Tuesday evening, drawing complaints from babysitters and child care centers who were unable to sign contracts with the government before the launch of the program.
Meanwhile, the ministry’s welfare consultation hotline 1957, which integrates various services and resources from public and private institutions, was flooded with calls from those wanting information about the new policy. [FULL STORY]
