Government agencies explore policies to encourage births

This article was written by Cecilia Fanchiang and published by the Taiwan Journal on July 22, 2005.

Although Taiwan is already one of the most densely populated countries in the world, the government is encouraging local women to have more babies.

According to current government regulations, each foster child or child in a low-income family is eligible for US$575 annually in government subsidies. Each child in Taiwan above the age of five who attends an accredited private day-care center or kindergarten is eligible for US$320 in "education aid" every year.

Taiwan's policymakers have set their sights on expanding day-care provisions to help more families find childcare providers in their communities. As of the end of 2004, more than 37000 childcare professionals had been granted government certification, which allows them to work in the childcare industry in 41 communities throughout Taiwan. More detailed information is provided in this article.