Labor Ministry's New Marriage Leave Policy Takes Effect October 1! 14-Day Paid Leave Extended to Married Employees, Government Fully Subsidizes Additional Days

Marriage leave for workers in Taiwan will officially be extended to match that of military and civil servants! The Ministry of Labor has announced a draft amendment to the 'Labor Leave Rules,' increasing workers' marriage leave from the current 8 days to 14 days starting October 1. The government will fully subsidize wages for the additional 6 days, significantly reducing the burden on both employers and newly married employees. This measure responds to the government's 'New National Strategy for Population Policy—Family Support' announced in May, aiming to alleviate the common complaint among working professionals that existing marriage leave is insufficient.

The '14-day marriage leave for workers' will take effect on October 1. Employers will continue to pay wages for the first 8 days of marriage leave, while the government will fully reimburse wages for days 9 to 14. After employers pay these wages to employees, they can apply for full reimbursement from the Ministry of Labor. Application procedures and subsidy guidelines will be released alongside the official amendment.

Can unused leave under the old system be upgraded? Yes—workers who haven't used all 8 days by October 1 will benefit. The Ministry of Labor has clarified eligibility rules for the transition period and leave calculation:

· Newly married couples: Employees who register marriage on or after October 1 can directly apply for 14 days of marriage leave.

· Married before October 1 with unused leave: Workers who registered marriage before October 1 but have not fully used their 8-day leave—and are still within the statutory leave period (within 3 months from 10 days before the wedding date, or extended to 1 year with employer consent)—can upgrade their remaining leave to a total of 14 days under the new policy.

· Holidays not counted: If marriage leave includes rest days, weekends, or national holidays—days when employees are not required to work—these days will not be deducted from the 14-day entitlement. As a result, the actual consecutive days off can exceed 14.

Comparison Table: Old vs. New Marriage Leave Rules (Effective 2023)

Comparison Item Current Rules (Before Sept. 30) New Rules (Starting Oct. 1) Government Subsidy & Notes

Total Marriage Leave 8 days 14 days Aligned with military and civil servant standards

Wage Responsibility Employer pays all 8 days Employer pays first 8 days; government subsidizes days 9–14 Employers can apply for full reimbursement after payment

Transition Rules Must use within current period Eligible if married before Oct. 1 with unused 8-day leave Must still be within statutory leave period

Holiday Deduction Excludes rest days, weekends, holidays Same rule Non-working days not counted; actual consecutive leave longer

Leave Deadline Within 3 months from 10 days before wedding (extendable to 1 year with consent) Same deadline No change in time limit

Q1: When will the marriage leave extension from 8 to 14 days officially take effect?

The Ministry of Labor has announced the draft amendment, with implementation set for October 1, aligning with military and civil servant standards.

Q2: Can employees who married before October 1 take 14 days of marriage leave?

Yes! If an employee registered marriage before October 1 but hasn’t used all 8 days and remains within the legal leave period, they can upgrade to 14 days under the new policy.

Q3: Will employers have to bear the cost of the additional 6 days of leave?

No. Employers can apply for full wage reimbursement from the Ministry of Labor after paying employees for days 9 to 14, reducing corporate burden.

Q4: If a 14-day marriage leave includes weekends or national holidays, will those days be deducted?

No. Rest days, weekends, and national holidays are not counted toward the 14-day leave, so the actual consecutive days off will exceed 14.

Q5: Within what timeframe must employees use their 14-day marriage leave?

Employees must use the leave within 3 months from 10 days before the wedding date. With employer consent, this can be extended to 1 year.

Source: Ministry of Labor