Taiwan considers paid parental leave for young farmers

台灣考慮推動青年農民有薪育嬰假

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – The Ministry of Agriculture is considering introducing paid parental leave for young farmers next year, Minister Chen Junne-jih (陳駿季) said Wednesday.

Chen said at an event honoring young farmers that the ministry is drafting a budget to provide paid parental leave to young female farmers, with plans to extend the benefit to male farmers.

Recent statistics show that Taiwan has approximately 486,000 agricultural workers, 24% of whom are “young farmers,” defined by the MOA as people aged 18 to 45. Women account for 30% of agricultural workers.

Attracting young people to work in agriculture has been a priority for the ministry, Chen said, noting that Taiwan’s declining birth rate is affecting the agricultural sector.

Taiwan’s government provides a parental leave subsidy equal to 80% of salary for up to six months. Workers are also entitled to up to two years of unpaid parental leave from their employers before their child turns three.

Many farmers are self-employed and need to be accommodated with a separate scheme, Chen said.

The ministry is still working out the program's details, including leave length, subsidy amounts, and payment methods. Chen said the benefits could be tied to the minimum wage.