At a press conference on Friday, DPP Legislators Lee Kuen-cheng (李坤城), Lin Tai-hua (林岱樺), Chen Hsiu-pao (陳秀寶), and Chen Chun-yu (陳俊宇) urged the government to increase subsidies for nannies.
Chen Chun-yu, who is a father of three, noted that the work of domestic childcare providers is unlike any other profession, involving long hours, high pressure, and little job security. He said that attracting and retaining young talent is difficult and called for an increase in equipment subsidies and a tiered bonus system based on the number of children cared for.
The Childcare Policy Alliance (CPA) spokesperson Huang Chiao-ling (黃喬鈴) added that while Taiwan has public childcare services, they are insufficient in both quantity and quality. Especially for children under 2, there is a severe shortage of nannies. Currently, over 60% of nannies are over the age of 50, indicating a significant shortfall in the nanny workforce within the next decade. Huang urged the government to increase the annual subsidies for nannies from NT$12,000 to NT$24,000 (US$375 to US$750), making childcare a more desirable profession.
To address Taiwan’s declining birth rates, the government continues to introduce childcare subsidies for parents. Bettering the working conditions and rights of domestic childcare providers will only improve family resources and encourage a higher birth rate.