Taiwan rights group calls for more paternity leave for expecting fathers

A Taipei-based women’s rights group has called on lawmakers to pass proposed amendments to an act that would allow male employees seven days of paid pre-paternity leave so that they can accompany their spouses to pregnancy check-ups. 

“We hope that lawmakers will pass the version of the amendment that we want so that pregnant women would not have to be all alone in check-up rooms,” said The Awakening Foundation, according to Taipei Times. 

The Executive Yuan’s proposed amendment to the act specifies that workers at companies with fewer than 30 staff can enjoy a reduction or adjustment of work hours through agreements with their employers, provided that workers do not request compensation for the adjustments, said the foundation. 

“While we affirm the Executive Yuan’s intention to save workers the hassle of having to choose between work and picking up their children, we believe that employers should not dock the salaries of employees for doing so,” it said. 

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“We propose that the article be amended to ban small companies from deducting from the salaries of employees who have reached an agreement on working hours. Workers who are parents should receive substantial support through the amendment and should not be asked to bear the economic losses that employers sustain for workers who work fewer hours,” it added.