Taipei, March 31 (CNA) The Legislative Yuan passed an amendment to the Employment Insurance Act Tuesday to introduce a subsidy for workers on unpaid parental leave to take care of children under three years old.

All workers who have joined the insurance program for at least one year when they take parental leave are eligible for a monthly subsidy equal to 60 percent of their salary for up to six months, the amendment stipulated.

In the event that two working parents rotate to take parental leave to take care of the same child, both parents are eligible for the subsidy, meaning the total subsidy received can reach up to 12 months, according to the amendment.

The Gender Equality in Employment Law of 2002 allows either of the parents to take unpaid parental leave for up to two years until their children reach three years old.

However, not many workers have taken the leave, either because most workers could not afford to lose their salaries or because they are worried their positions would be filled permanently by replacements.

Data from the Council of Labor Affairs show that only 3 percent of the more than 100,000 women covered by the Labor Insurance system who gave birth from 2005 to 2007 took parental leave during these three years.

During the three years, 1,939 insured women took leave in 2005, 2,721 took leave in 2006, and 3,206 took leave in 2007.

Introducing the parental subsidy was one of President Ma Ying-jeou’s campaign promises. (By Y.F. Low)