TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) unveiled Taiwan's highest childcare subsidies on Tuesday (March 31), a policy that will save families up to NT$36,000 (around US$1,122) annually when it takes effect in July. The initiative will increase the "Community Public Nursery Homes" (小家園) subsidy by NT$2,000 (around US$62) and the quasi-public childcare subsidy by NT$3,000 (around US$94), the mayor said at a news conference.
Under the new policy, parents will pay NT$1,500 (around US$47) monthly for a first child at private childcare centers, down from current rates. Public childcare costs will drop from NT$3,500 (around US$109) to NT$1,500 (around US$47), while quasi-public childcare and nanny fees will fall from NT$5,500 (around US$171) to NT$2,500 (around US$78). Second children will receive free care across all facility types, a measure Chiang said aims to encourage families to have more children.
Chiang said he expects 70% of families using childcare services to benefit, with the policy affecting 85,000 children citywide. The city government will also expand its "Every School Has Public Childcare" initiative, designating 16 locations that include one school in each of Taipei's 12 administrative districts and four public spaces. Temporary care sites will grow to 45 locations by June, up from just four in April 2022.
Newborn eight-hour temporary care vouchers will become available starting in September, Chiang said. Beginning July 1, Taipei will fully subsidize one dose of the RSV vaccine for pregnant women from low- and middle-income households or those meeting specific child medical aid criteria. The city's Department of Health advised residents to schedule vaccinations at Taipei City Hospital to minimize wait times, with more information available through the health hotline at 02-2375-4341. ◼ (At time of reporting, US$1 equals approximately NT$32.08)