Radio Taiwan International
Date: 2018-02-18

Taiwan’s government agencies are set to collectively contribute to a fund for childcare

Taiwan’s government agencies are set to collectively contribute to a fund for childcare subsidies. (CNA Photo)

subsidies. This is part of the Cabinet’s response to the nation’s low birth rate.

Premier William Lai says he has planned to implement, by September of this year, new policies that will provide government subsidies for each newborn infant.

The government’s budgeting and statistics office says the policies, would require a fund of NT$36 billion (US$ 1.2 billion) based on the average number of new infants born each year. About NT$30 billion of that (US$ 10 billion) must come from the central government. Officials say that various government agencies will contribute to the fund, and that they will not use the federal reserve.    [FULL  STORY]