Taiwanese local governments expand childcare services and incentives

Local authorities in Taiwan are implementing new measures to support childcare and stabilize the workforce. In Changhua County, the Tanaka Public-Private Childcare Center, Parenting Pavilion, and Community Activity Center have officially opened. This three-story facility integrates infant care, parenting support, and community exchange. The childcare center can accommodate 60 infants with monthly fees of 7,000 TWD, which becomes free for parents after government subsidies. Changhua County plans to establish at least 40 public-private childcare centers and 21 parenting pavilions to address declining birth rates.

In Taichung City, Mayor Lu Shi-yen announced a pilot program to provide retention bonuses for full-time staff at quasi-public childcare centers starting next year. To reduce high turnover rates and improve care quality, bonuses will be distributed based on years of service: 24,000 TWD for those with one to three years of experience, 30,000 TWD for three to five years, and 36,000 TWD for those with over five years of service. Taichung has expanded its childcare resources from five centers to a projected 56 by the end of this year.