As Taiwan’s recent wave of COVID-19 infections continues to subside, many people are heading back to work in person. But with the summer vacation now under way, working parents are struggling to find childcare solutions.
Right now, Level 3 restrictions are still in place in Taiwan until at least July 12. That means daycare, cram schools, summer camps and school activities are canceled. In response, the government has legally obliged employers to allow workers to take “disease prevention childcare leave”. The concern for many is that if authorities ease restrictions to Level 2, children’s activities could remain canceled, but parents may no longer be able to take time off work for childcare.
Democratic Progressive Party lawmakers held a forum on Monday calling on the education ministry to address the concerns of parents. Lawmaker Lai Pin-yu says parents should still be allowed to take time off from work if restrictions aren’t downgraded to Level 1.
Another DPP lawmaker, Chung Chia-pin, says the education ministry should set guidelines for holding in-person summer activities on school campuses. He says that’s especially important in rural areas where there is a lower risk of infection.
The head of the Education Ministry’s K-12 Education Administration, Peng Fu-yuan, says that’s a possibility if restrictions ease later this month.