In the previous article, the author talked to you about a series of stories about Taiwan Province, such as the division of Taiwan Province, the salary level in Taiwan Province, housing prices in Taiwan Province, etc. Today, we talk about fertility issues in Taiwan Province. In recent years, Taiwan’s fertility rate has been on the low side, and there has been a problem of negative population growth. In order to remedy this problem and increase the fertility rate, Taiwan Province has proposed maternity subsidies. So, how much is the monthly subsidy? Today, we will talk about this issue.
First, let’s talk about the specific situation in Taiwan Province. Since ancient times, Taiwan Province has been an integral part of our country. As of 2021, the total population of Taiwan Province is more than 23.3 million, slightly lower than the inland Gansu Province and Jilin Province. However, the terrain structure of Taiwan Province is complex, with mountains and hills being the main areas and not many plains. Therefore, the population of Taiwan Province mainly lives on one side of the coastline of Taiwan Island, forming a series of large and medium-sized cities. The railway lines in Taiwan Province are also designed around the island.
In 2021, Taiwan Province’s GDP total amount was NT$21,649.388 billion, which is approximately equivalent to 4.87 trillion yuan. Taiwan Island is very important in terms of geographical location and other aspects. In the historical documents of the Qing Dynasty, the evaluation of the Taiwan Prefecture is: "The Taiwan Prefecture stands in the sea and stretches for more than 2,000 miles, serving as a southeastern barrier... surrounded by the sea on all sides and cut across by high mountains. Carrying Chonggang, carrying the islands, Langqiao is on the south, and chicken coop is on the north. Penghu is the gateway, and Luer is the throat.
Next, let’s talk about the population changes in Taiwan Province. As of 1894, before the outbreak of the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1894, the total population of Taiwan Province totaled more than 3 million people. During the period of Japanese control, the population growth of Taiwan Province slowed down significantly due to long-term oppression and oppression. As of 1947, the total population of Taiwan Province was 6.07 million. From the late 1940s to the early 1950s, with the large number of immigrants entering Taiwan Province, the population base of Taiwan Province greatly increased.
Coupled with natural population growth, in the late 1950s, the total population of Taiwan Province exceeded 10 million. In the 1960s and 1970s, Taiwan's economy continued to develop rapidly, becoming one of the four Asian Tigers, and its population continued to increase. In 1982, the total population of Taiwan Province reached more than 18.2 million people. In the late 1980s, the total population of Taiwan Province exceeded 20 million. However, after entering the 1990s, Taiwan Province's population growth slowed down significantly, especially the fertility rate among young people.
Due to a series of reasons such as high life pressure, increased costs and time for raising children, and limited salary levels, the fertility rate in Taiwan Province has been declining year by year. In 2000, the total population of Taiwan Province was 22.28 million. In the following 20 years, this number did not change much. As of December 2021, Taiwan Province's total population was 23.37 million, and it has experienced negative population growth for two consecutive years.
According to statistics, Taiwan's fertility rate dropped to 1.5 in 1998, fell below 1.3 in 2003, and entered the "ultra-low fertility rate stage". It further dropped to 1.05 in 2019. The problem of low birthrate has existed for more than 20 years, and has brought about a series of social problems, such as insufficient enrollment leading to the closure of universities, mergers, labor shortages, reduced consumption power, etc. In the first six months of 2022, a total of 67,149 people were born in Taiwan Province. At the same time, the number of deaths was 102,177, which was an obvious negative population growth.
According to statistics from some Taiwanese institutions, more than 50% of young couples in Taiwan choose to have only one child or no children. In fact, in order to encourage childbirth, Taiwan Province has long started to provide maternity subsidies and childcare subsidies. In view of the problem of kindergartens or childcare institutions after the age of 2 during childcare, Taiwan Province began to provide childcare subsidies to families raising children aged 2 to 4 in 2018. The subsidy standards for one, two and three children are completely different.
However, due to limited subsidies, Taiwan's fertility rate continues to decline. In 2021, the total number of registered marriages in Taiwan Province was only 121,700, which was the "second lowest number in the past 48 years." In August 2022, Taiwan Province began to significantly increase maternity subsidies.Beginning in August, families in Taiwan Province who give birth to a child will receive a monthly maternity subsidy of NT$5,000 from 0 to 5 years old, which is equivalent to more than 1,150 yuan.
If you have a second child, you can receive a monthly maternity subsidy of NT$6,000 for the child from 0 to 5 years old, which is equivalent to more than 1,380 yuan. If you have three children, your child will receive a monthly maternity subsidy of NT$7,000 from 0 to 5 years old, which is equivalent to more than 1,610 yuan. In addition to maternity subsidies, many children's parents need to work and their children will be sent to childcare institutions. According to regulations, starting in August 2022, children aged 0 to 2 sent to public childcare institutions will receive a monthly subsidy of NT$5,500, which is approximately equivalent to more than 1,260 yuan. If
is sent to a non-public childcare institution, it can receive a monthly subsidy of NT$8,500, which is approximately equivalent to more than 1,950 yuan. Please note that the reduced childcare subsidy does not conflict with the above-mentioned childcare subsidy and can be superimposed on each other. In other words, a young couple has their third child and sends them to a non-public childcare institution. You can receive up to NT$15,500 in maternity and childcare subsidies per month, which is equivalent to more than 3,560 yuan.
At the same time, Taiwan Province also stipulates that children over 2 years old should be sent to public kindergartens, and families will receive a monthly subsidy of NT$1,000, which is equivalent to more than 230 yuan. If sent to a non-profit kindergarten, the family will receive a monthly subsidy of NT$2,000, which is approximately equivalent to more than 460 yuan. If the child is sent to a private kindergarten, the family will receive a monthly subsidy of NT$3,000, which is approximately equivalent to more than 690 yuan. Please note that public kindergartens in Taiwan Province are free. Of course, demand exceeds supply because there are too few public kindergartens.
Finally, let’s talk about the current salary level in Taiwan Province. Starting in January 2022, Taiwan Province will implement new wage standards. The monthly minimum wage is NT$25,250, which is approximately equivalent to more than 5,840 yuan. In terms of minimum wages, the minimum wages in Taiwan Province are relatively high. Taiwan Province has adopted two minimum wage methods at the same time. In addition to the monthly minimum wage, it also established an hourly minimum wage. According to the standards in January 2022, the hourly minimum wage in Taiwan Province is NT$168, which is approximately equivalent to 38.9 yuan. Why are there two standards for
? Because some companies do not use the 8-hour work system, wages are calculated on an hourly basis. According to statistics from the Taiwan Provincial Labor Department, in 2022, the average monthly salary in all 63 industries will be NT$43,570, which is approximately equivalent to more than 10,090 yuan. Among the 63 industries, monthly wages in 41 industries including accommodation and catering, wholesale and retail, transportation and warehousing, education, art, wedding photography, beauty salons, and social welfare are lower than the average of 43,570.
Among them, the average monthly salary in the social welfare service industry is only NT$35,238, which is approximately equivalent to more than 8,160 yuan. The average salary in 22 industries including semiconductors, software networks, telecommunications, chemical manufacturing, and finance is higher than the average of 43,570. Among them, the computer and software network industry has the highest average monthly salary, reaching NT$56,531, which is approximately equivalent to about 13,000 RMB. Of course, wages and prices in each region are directly proportional. The wage level in Taiwan Province is relatively high, but prices in all aspects are also high.
Therefore, Taiwan Province provides various maternity subsidies, which are approximately equivalent to about one-third of the average salary in Taiwan Province. These subsidies are not very high and will have a certain practical effect on increasing the population's fertility rate, but they are relatively limited.
There are many more stories about the history and economic development of Taiwan Province. The author will talk to you slowly in future articles.
