The Legislative Yuan on Tuesday passed a slew of legal amendments that will increase paid leave for pregnancy checkups from five days to seven, while also allowing married couples to take leave at the same time.

Currently, the Act of Gender Equality in Employment stipulates a maximum five days of paid leave for prenatal health checks and five days of paid paternity leave.

In line with previously revised regulations that took effect in July increasing the number of prenatal check-ups covered under the national health insurance (NHI) program from 10 to 14, the amendments will increase paid pregnancy checkup leave from five days to seven.

The amended law also stipulates that the spouses of pregnant women are entitled to take up to seven days of paid leave to attend prenatal appointments with their wife.

According to the new rules, once employers have paid pregnancy checkup leave to an employee, they can apply for subsidies from the Bureau of Labor Insurance for the sixth and seventh leave days.

The amended regulations will also allow workers at companies with fewer than 30 employees to ask for more flexible working hours when they have children under 3 years old.

The Cabinet will make an announcement as to when the new measures will come into effect.

Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel