The Ministry of Labor (MOL) on Tuesday announced the implementation of several family-friendly policies, including increased paid parental leave, with immediate effect.

The expanded perks, which are expected to benefit some 221,000 workers, allow pregnant women to take up to seven days of paid leave, instead of five, for prenatal health checks, the ministry said.

For married couples, the male spouses of pregnant women are now eligible to seven instead of five days of paid paternity leave, which they can also use to accompany their wives on prenatal appointments, the MOL said.

A government budget of NT$620 million (US$22 million) has been allocated for the expanded policy, which takes effect immediately and is expected to cover 102,000 female and 119,000 male workers, according to the MOL.

The new policy was implemented under the Act of Gender Equality, which was amended in the Legislature last month to boost parental benefits.

According to the MOL, employers will be required to pay for the sixth and seventh days of their workers’ parental leave and then apply to Bureau of Labor Insurance for reimbursement.

The amended regulations also allow workers at companies with fewer than 30 employees to request more flexible working hours, if they have children under the age of 3 years, the ministry said.

Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel