Taiwan Fathers Taking More Parental Leave, but Gender Gaps Remain

Ahead of Taiwan's Father's Day, labor data reveals a historic shift: flexible parental leave options introduced this year saw male applicants outnumber female applicants in both May and June. However, labor advocates point out that traditional gender norms and the "fatherhood bonus"—where men earn higher workplace rewards for being the traditional breadwinners—still make it financially challenging for fathers to step away. To further encourage shared parenting, the Cabinet and the legislature are pushing cross-party reforms to expand paid parental leave.