William Lai proposed five major policies ahead of Mother's Day: focusing on childcare, youth development, and developing the nursing workforce.
President William Lai proposed five major policies at the Democratic Progressive Party's Central Executive Committee meeting on May 7, focusing on family care, youth development, and the medical workforce. The policies include strengthening social investment, promoting parental leave and subsidies, enhancing childcare services, passing the draft of the "Youth Basic Law," and initiating an NT$275 billion nursing workforce plan, along with advocating for the legal establishment of nurse-to-patient ratios. These measures aim to meet the needs of modern families, support the next generation, and strengthen the care system.
Key Updates
05/07 09:03
William Lai proposed five major policies ahead of Mother's Day: focusing on childcare, youth development, and developing the nursing workforce.
President William Lai proposed five major policies at the Democratic Progressive Party's Central Executive Committee meeting on May 7, focusing on family care, youth development, and the medical workforce. The policies include strengthening social investment, promoting parental leave and subsidies, enhancing childcare services, passing the draft of the "Youth Basic Law," and initiating an NT$275 billion nursing workforce plan, along with advocating for the legal establishment of nurse-to-patient ratios. These measures aim to meet the needs of modern families, support the next generation, and strengthen the care system.
Strengthening Social Investment and Expanding Care Services
In his speech, Lai Ching-te stated that both children and youth are valuable assets to the nation. The government should not only express respect to mothers who give birth to the next generation but also continue to strengthen social investment and expand the scale of government care services. He pointed out that in the face of increasingly smaller family structures and the prevalence of dual-income families, the nation has a responsibility to provide more comprehensive care support, allowing generations to thrive together and move towards sustainable development.
Promoting Parental Leave and Allowance System
Lai Ching-te emphasized that traditional gender role stereotypes are outdated, and childcare and housework should no longer be seen as solely women's responsibilities. He noted that currently, both parents can apply for up to two years of parental leave without pay before their child turns three and can receive parental leave allowances. During this period, applicants can maintain their labor insurance, and employers are exempt from paying the insurance premiums. This system is designed to alleviate family care pressure and promote gender equality.
Enhancing the Quality of Childcare Services
Addressing recent societal concerns about childcare safety, Lai Ching-te stated that the government will comprehensively enhance the quality of childcare services, clearly defining the qualifications and obligations of childcare providers, and strengthening the establishment and management of childcare institutions. He noted that every child is the most cherished by their parents, and ensuring that children grow up in a happy and safe environment is a shared responsibility of families, the government, and society as a whole. The government will also continue to strengthen childcare subsidies and parenting allowances to help families create a child-friendly environment.
Passing the Draft of the "Youth Basic Law"
Lai Ching-te pointed out that as children grow into youth, the nation should also provide corresponding support. To this end, the Executive Yuan passed the draft of the "Youth Basic Law" last Thursday, strengthening the youth engagement mechanisms at all levels of government, allowing the voices of youth to be heard and implemented in policies. The draft includes establishing local support systems for youth, encouraging youth to return to and remain in their hometowns, and setting housing and family policies to protect youth housing rights and create a child-friendly environment, further strengthening family support systems.
Addressing Nursing Workforce Issues and Promoting Legalization of Nurse-to-Patient Ratios
In terms of medical care, on the eve of International Nurses Day, Lai Ching-te announced via video speech that the government has launched the "12-Strategy Medium and Long-Term Nursing Workforce Policy Plan," with a total budget of 27.5 billion NTD over four years. The plan will address education, examinations, employment, and salary improvements, offering incentive subsidies, establishing reasonable care standards, strengthening workforce supplementation, and promoting AI-assisted measures to improve the nursing work environment.
Additionally, regarding societal concerns about the hospital nurse-to-patient ratio policy, Lai Ching-te stated that there are currently monitoring and incentive mechanisms, and future developments will move towards legalization. He emphasized that only by continuously improving the nursing work environment can higher quality medical services be provided to the public, a shared goal of both the government and the nursing community.
