Doctors today called for dedicated savings accounts for people preparing to have children, after a nationwide survey found prospective parents believe they need NT$1.5 million (US$45,774) in savings and combined monthly income of NT$90,000 before having a child.
With Taiwan’s declining birthrate described as a national security crisis, the Taipei Fertility Center (TFC) held a news conference today to release its latest survey on prospective parenthood, hoping to identify the underlying reasons why young people are hesitant to have children.
The online survey was conducted in June and July, surveying 1,244 people aged 26 to 45.
Photo: CNA
Women accounted for 64.6 percent of respondents and men 35.4 percent, while people aged 31 to 40 accounted for 59.5 percent, those aged 41 to 45 accounted for 22.5 percent, and those aged 26 to 30 accounted for 17.6 percent.
Most respondents were white-collar workers with modest incomes living in one of Taiwan’s six special municipalities.
Most respondents believed they should have at least NT$1.5 million saved before having a child, and 75 percent said the two parents’ combined salaries should be at least NT$90,000.
However, 66.6 percent of respondents reported earning an individual annual income of less than NT$700,000.
After accounting for household and living expenses, there was a significant gap between people’s actual finances and their ideal circumstance for having children, reflecting financial pressures faced by people of childrearing age, TFC physician Chen Wei-an (陳薇安) said.
Chen suggested providing dedicated savings accounts for married couples planning to have children, with the government making contributions based on household income to help prospective parents save.
The funds would be specifically for preconception health checks, fertility treatments, pregnancy care, childbirth and early childcare, with time limits on their use and a way for the government to recover unused contributions, she said.
After the child is born, the account would be linked to the government’s childrearing allowance for children aged up to 18, creating a comprehensive support system for families, she added.
In addition, 43.5 percent of respondents called for accessible and affordable childcare, while 36.1 percent called for flexible working hours.
The latter ranked higher than other options, such as increasing parental leave or reducing working hours, showing that balancing work with childcare is a key barrier facing dual-income families.
Couples often delay having children out of concern that it could affect their careers, sometimes missing their ideal childrearing years, former Taipei Medical University College of Medicine dean Tseng Chi-jui (曾啟瑞) said.
The government should encourage companies to provide childcare services, prioritizing helping science and industrial parks as well as large office complexes establish shared childcare centers, Tseng said.
The government could help companies in similar industries jointly establish childcare centers by providing subsidies and helping secure locations, he said.
The centers would offer convenient, safe and affordable care during working hours, making it easier for employees to have children and companies to retain talent, he added.
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