TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan’s flexible parental leave system, allowing up to 30 days of leave to be taken on a single-day basis, goes into effect Jan. 1.
Liu Hsiu-ling (劉秀玲), head of the Bureau of Labor Insurance’s Ordinary Accident Benefits Payment Division, said employees may take up to two years of parental leave until their child turns 3, per CNA. Of that leave, 30 days can be taken on a single-day basis as needed.
Workers using single-day parental leave can still apply for childcare subsidies and continue insurance coverage. They will receive 80% of their insured salary for up to six months per child.
The bureau has simplified the subsidy and insurance continuation application process to reduce administrative procedures. Workers can now accumulate up to 30 single-day leave requests and submit them in a single application.
Liu also pointed out that applications can be submitted online or on paper. For online applications, either the employer or the insured employee can apply 24/7 via the internet.
Insured persons can also verify their identity using a mobile phone and National Health Insurance card, completing applications anytime with faster processing.
The bureau has revised the forms to integrate reinstatement and insurance continuation after leave ends. Those continuing coverage will automatically have their insurance status restored and retirement contributions resumed the day following the leave, eliminating the need for employers to submit separate reinstatement notifications.
Employers who grant single-day parental leave will receive a fixed incentive of NT$1,000 (US$31). The bureau will provide a single portal for account submission, and incentives will be directly deposited after verification.
A dedicated “Flexible Parental Leave” section on the bureau’s website consolidates information on subsidies and insurance continuation. It includes online guides for employees and employers, one-minute tutorial videos, subsidy and wage support details, a calculation tool, and frequently asked questions.
