How to Apply for Parental Leave and the '6+3' Childcare Subsidy: Q&A

The Taiwan government has announced a new population strategy, upgrading flexible parental leave to a formal 'childcare leave' system. Parents with children under 6 can take up to 60 days of leave for reasons such as illness or childcare needs. Furthermore, the childcare subsidy, originally capped at 6 months for each parent, will be extended by an additional 3 months if both parents take the full 6 months, totaling up to 18 months. While employers do not pay salaries during this leave, the Bureau of Labor Insurance provides subsidies directly. The government plans to raise the subsidy cap to over 40,000 TWD through amendments to the Employment Insurance Act.