According to the officials, the Ministry of the Interior (MOI) is scheduled to release a white paper on population policy late this month, in which a child raising subsidy is proposed as a measure to encourage married couples to have more children.

Referring to practices adopted by advanced countries,the MOI-drafted white paper proposes a progressive child-rearing subsidy system, under which families with children aged six and under will be entitled to a monthly child-raising allowance, the officials said.

In terms of the initial MOI proposal, families with a child aged under six will be offered a monthly subsidy of NT$2,000 (US$60.6), while those with two young children will be given a monthly allowance of NT$3,000. Those with three or more young children will receive a monthly subsidy of NT$5,000.

MOI officials said the child-raising subsidy proposal is based on the findings of a series of public opinion polls conducted by the ministry and major academic institutions, in which more than 50 percent of the respondents consistently advocated the financial support measure as an effective step to encourage childbirth.

The population policy white paper also proposes many other feasible ways and incentives to boost childbirth, with the goal of boosting the fertility rate from the present 1.2 children born to each woman over the course of her life to 1.6 children born to each woman over a period of 10 years, the officials said, adding that when the goal is achieved, the number of newborns will reach an estimated 300,000 a year.

As the MOI has received letters from many concerned citizens asking for early disclosure of the contents of the white paper, the officials said, the MOI will hold public hearings in northern, central and southern Taiwan, respectively, from Tuesday.

The MOI will refer to all the expert views and public opinions presented at the hearings when putting the final touches on the population white paper, which the ministry has spent NT$8 million preparing, the officials said.

According to measures proposed in the white paper, families with three or more young children will be given a special identification card for their cars so that they can enjoy either deductions or exemptions for roadside parking and freeway tolls.

Families with multiple children will also be offered preferential rates in using public educational, recreational and entertainment facilities, the officials said.

The white paper also suggests that men who have deferred performing their mandatory military service because of education and who have children can opt for alternative services without lot drawing and can choose to serve at military bases adjacent to their homes.

The white paper proposes that over the long run, equal maternity and paternity leave benefits be offered to both female and male employees. By so doing, the report says, the cost of employing male and female workers will be almost the same, which will ultimately contribute to gender equality in employment.

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