Taipei:Lawmakers in Taiwan have approved significant amendments to the Gender Equality in Employment Act and the Employment Insurance Act, extending maternity leave from eight to 14 weeks and doubling paternity leave from seven to 14 days. Additionally, the eligibility for unpaid parental leave has been expanded.

According to Focus Taiwan, the amendments also allow employees to take unpaid parental leave until their child turns nine, instead of the previous limit of three years. Provisions have been made for employees to take childcare leave under specific circumstances, such as a child's illness, suspension of daycare services or school classes, vaccinations, and other situations requiring parental care. This leave is capped at 60 days per child and will count towards the total period of unpaid parental leave.

Moreover, the seven-day entitlement for leave to accompany a spouse to prenatal checkups remains unchanged. Paternity leave must be taken within 15 days of childbirth. The amendments extend the maximum period for parental leave allowances from six months to nine months if both parents have received the full six-month allowance.

Migrant workers in Taiwan are entitled to maternity leave under current laws, but live-in caregivers are excluded from paid maternity leave and related allowances, although they may take unpaid parental leave. These legislative changes occur as Taiwan faces a persistently low birth rate, ranking among the lowest globally.

The amendments will be submitted to President Lai Ching-te for promulgation, and the Executive Yuan, Taiwan's Cabinet, will determine when they will take effect.