Taiwan increases paid leave for expectant mothers

Taiwan has passed a number of regulatory amendments that will increase paid leave for expectant mothers to perform prenatal checkups from five to seven days, and allow married couples to take leave at the same time.

At present, the Act of Gender Equality in Employment stipulates a maximum five days of paid leave for prenatal health checks, and awards five days of paid paternity leave to new fathers. 

The amended law also allows spouses of pregnant women to take up to seven days of paid leave to attend prenatal appointments with their wives. 

Once employers have approved paid pregnancy checkup leave to their workers, they can apply for subsidies from the Bureau of Labor Insurance for the sixth and seventh leave days, reports Focus Taiwan. 

The amended regulation also allows workers at companies with fewer than 30 employees to request for more flexible working hours if they have children under three years of age.

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Under previously revised regulations in July, the number of prenatal checkups covered under the national health insurance programme has been increased from 10 to 14.