Taipei plan to reduce working hours for parents slammed

Taipei plan to reduce working hours for parents slammed

2026-02-26

The Taipei City Government on Thursday got slammed over a pilot program it announced the day before, which aims to promote reduced working hours for parents. Starting March, the city will offer subsidies to business that allow parents with children aged 12 and below to work only 7 hours a day, without loss of pay. Under the program, the city government would subsidize 80% of the wages for the reduced work hours. The Taipei Department of Labor has allocated a budget of NT$5.5 million for the plan, offering a total subsidy of NT$100,000 for 55 companies. But critics say that, with more than 180,000 businesses registered in Taipei, the program is just a drop in the ocean. Let’s hear more.

Ho Meng-hua
Taipei City Councilor (DPP)
The budget should be NT$8.7 billion, but the city government only allocated NT$5.5 million. That’s just 0.06% of the necessary amount. It’s like a bag of potato chips: full of air. Taipei doesn’t need a mayor that’s all talk and no walk.

Michelle Lee
Executive Yuan Spokesperson
Cooperation between central and local governments helps the central government formulate better policies. Local governments can set an example by implementing supporting measures that allow all citizens to enjoy the benefits of their policies.

Fan Yun
Lawmaker (DPP)
Last year, the Ministry of Labor launched a policy so that parents can take childcare leave in days, and family care leave in hours. The system entered effect this year. But because of the blockades by the KMT and TPP, the NT$500 million in subsidies for SMEs is unusable, even though a system has already been designed so that applicants can just sign up and get the disbursement.

The other five special municipalities of New Taipei, Taoyuan, Taichung, Tainan and Kaohsiung have said they will not be following suit. Meanwhile, lawmakers say the central government has already put measures in place to allow for more flexibility. The Taipei City Government has defended its program, saying that it is just meant as a demonstration, and a way to collect data to put together a finalized budget and program next year. Even though the program has yet to enter effect, it’s already off to a rocky start.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#taipei #kmt #parentalleave #parenting #family

"育兒減工時"需87億僅有550萬? 議員轟蔣"洋芋片"政治學

2026-02-26

北市府宣布，3月開始推動"育兒減工時"計畫，減少的工資市府提供8成補助。但這項計畫，勞動局僅編列550萬預算，每家公司補助10萬，全台北市18萬家企業，只有55家能用。議員痛批，根本是杯水車薪。

[[台北市議員(民) 何孟樺]]
“實際上總經費需要87億，市府卻只從公務預算中撥出了550萬，只有所需經費的0.06%。不要再當一包滿是空氣的洋芋片，台北市不需要一個一肚子空氣的市長。”

[[行政院發言人李慧芝]]
“中央跟地方的合作，也有助於讓中央可以制定更好的政策，而地方政府的示範，也可以考量更周全的配套，讓所有的民眾，都可以享受到政策的美意。”

[[立委(民) 范雲]]
“勞動部去年推出，育嬰留停分天請，家庭照顧假用小時請，今年一月一日就已經上路，但是總共五億給中小企業的補助，連系統都設計好了，只要登錄，政府就直接發，卻因為藍白擋預算，到現在無法使用。”

其他五都通通表態不跟進，立委也說育嬰、家庭照顧假，這些措施中央早就在做。消息才公布一天，北市勞動局就說，這政策只是"示範性質"，以實際執行來收集數據，以便明年編列正式預算，但還沒上路，就掀起風波。

更多新聞內容，請鎖定：
民視台灣台（152頻道）週一至週五晚上9:30
民視新聞台（53頻道）週二至週六凌晨1:00

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Pingtung resident from Saint Lucia collects over 100 EasyCards

Lots of people like collecting dolls, models, or toys. But Jelani from Saint Lucia loves collecting EasyCards and iPASS cards, especially ones with special designs. His collection began when he moved to Taiwan 12 years ago to study at a university in Pingtung. Now, with 120 cards and counting, he considers Pingtung his home.

Casting a spell with his magic wand, Jelani unlocks a YouBike to ride around and explore Taipei.

Jelani
Card collector
I think it’s really special. I really love Harry Potter, so when I saw iPASS had this, I had to get it.

Originally from Saint Lucia, Jelani has lived in Taiwan for 12 years. He collects different types of EasyCards and iPASS cards.

There are at least 120 different cards in his collection, from a birthday candle to a sponge, all of which can be used to take public transit.

One of the standouts is a complete map of Taiwan, split into five cards. One of them depicts Jelani’s favorite city and home of 10 years, Pingtung.

Jelani
Card collector
I think Taiwanese people are all very welcoming, but it feels a little different in Pingtung. I may be a foreigner, but I don’t feel like it in Pingtung. I love Pingtung’s way of life and its culture. I love Pingtung!

Jelani moved to Pingtung 12 years ago on a scholarship to study at National Pingtung University of Science and Technology. He then moved to Taipei to go to graduate school at National Taiwan University, but decided Southern Taiwan suited him better and moved back. He speaks Mandarin fluently, but didn’t learn it at school.

Jelani likes listening to Elva Hsiao and watching Taiwanese dramas.

Jelani
Card collector
Lots, maybe 20 or 30 of them. It’s like 15-year-old girl Chinese, because my friend said that when he talks to me, I say “really, no way,” which he thinks is a little strange. I watch too many Taiwanese dramas. Taiwan is safe, the people are friendly, and the food is great. Century eggs are good too, and stinky tofu is OK.

Jelani also likes playing mahjong.

Jelani
Card collector
I really like playing mahjong with friends. Because “fa” means good fortune, right? Or making money? Let’s get lucky and let me draw the winning tile. I win!

Jelani shows off his mahjong tile iCash card, wishing everybody good fortune for the Year of the Horse.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#foreigner #immigrant #scholarship #SaintLucia #Pingtung #EasyCard #iPASS #iCash #collector #collection

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Power bank not in use still caught fire and caused burns

Another power bank fire. This time, it wasn’t even in use or charging. The victim was on holiday in Busan, South Korea and taking a bus ride when the power bank in her bag suddenly caught fire. Worse, she was taking a nap and had her face against the bag, which she rested on her thighs. She got her face and hair burned, while her husband inhaled the smoke and sustained injuries in the nasal tract. The same model is still available on the market, and so far the brand has yet to make a statement. Let’s take a closer look and find out more.

Thick, pungent smoke fills the bus. A power bank fire left the floor charred, shocking passengers.

Victim’s husband
Involved in power bank fire
My wife suddenly screamed that it burned. We were snoozing. When we opened our eyes, we saw a thick layer of smoke in front of us. We also inhaled it. The smell of burned lithium battery stayed in the nose for three days. It stayed no matter how much you try to sneeze it out. I went to an ENT doctor, who told me that I had injuries in my nose.

Victim
Involved in power bank fire
Suddenly something on my leg felt really hot. I saw the smoke and quickly got it off me. Another passenger quickly swept it up and hurled it onto the street.

The couple from Taoyuan was on a skiing holiday in Busan, South Korea. They were on a bus when the wife’s bag, which she rested on her thighs, suddenly heated up. That’s when they realized that the power bank inside had caught fire. The victim had her face against it while taking a nap, so she got her face and hair burned. Even their passports inside the bag were almost left unusable.

Victim
Power bank fire
This spot on my thigh burned. So I quickly woke up, and saw that for some reason, this spot was charred. My wrists and hair were also charred. It smelled really bad.

Hwa Soon-far
Chemistry teacher
It could be because of overcharging, or there could be a short circuit. That could be caused by placing a key on top, or dropping it and causing mechanical damage, causing it to short circuit.

The same model is still available in stores. We called the brand to clarify, but they didn’t answer. The victim’s power bank was neither in use nor charging when it caught fire, but she still sustained injuries, so she’s decided to sue.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#powerbank #safety #firesafety #device #fire

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Taipei Metro’s capsule hotel allows nightshift staff to rest

Hidden beneath Taipei Main Station is a capsule hotel with six sleeping pods and a shower room. The Taipei MRT provides this space for operations control center staff working the nightshift to rest and recuperate. But recently people online discovered it and have been asking if the rooms are available for public booking.

The Taipei Metro operations control center runs 24 hours a day, with staff working tirelessly to keep the MRT running safely. Thankfully, they have a place they can rest.

Chen Chih-fan
FTV reporter
Hidden underneath Taipei Main Station is a capsule hotel. To rest here, staff need to pass several checkpoints to get to this duty room. Let’s take a look inside.

Yang Tsung-che
Taipei Metro control center deputy director
There are showers here before entering the rest area so that staff can have a shower before sleeping and comfortably come to the on-duty room.

Inside there are six individual capsules each fully equipped with comfortable bedding. The lights are adjustable and each capsule can be closed for privacy.

The blinds block outside light, reduce noise, and ensure privacy for undisturbed rest. There are outlets for charging electronics and drawers for personal effects. There are also restrooms and showers, making the space comparable to commercial capsule hotels. But this space is only available to certain people.

Member of public
Curious about capsules
It’s very considerate, but the public can’t use it?

Member of public
Commenting on capsules
It looks like a standard capsule hotel. People would want to stay here.

The Taipei Metro made this rest area specifically for its staff, giving hardworking employees a place to recover and recharge.

Yang Tsung-che
Taipei Metro control center deputy director
We spent about half a year and around NT$1.5 million planning this area. It’s been in use for two or three years already. If we opened it up to the public, it might disturb the staff’s rest.

The Taipei Metro provides staff with this comfortable space to rest, so that they can come to work refreshed and motivated.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#TaipeiMetro #Taipei #MRT #staff #capsulehotel #nightshift #dutyroom #restarea

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Schoolgirl helps elderly man get dressed at busy road

A schoolgirl training to be a nurse in Yunlin recently demonstrated the kindness necessary to enter the career during an incident on the streets of Beigang. The student had been riding her bike along a busy road, when she noticed an elderly man on the side of the road whose pants had fallen to his knees. Suspecting that he had dementia, the highschooler hopped off her bike and rushed to help him get dressed and tidy. A video of their interaction was caught on video by a passing car, and shared online. Commenters found the moment especially heartwarming, calling the girl an angel.

An older man is struggling to pull up his pants in the middle of the road, as a girl grabs the sides of the trousers to pull them back up.

Once the pants are up again, she crouches to pick up a shoe and turns it around to slide it over his foot, but he falls back a few steps. In the end, she places the missing shoe in front of him. This scene took place on a busy road in Beigang, Yunlin, and recorded by a driver who happened to pass by. The driver stopped the car in front of the duo to block traffic, and later posted the video online, praising the girl for her kindness. Online, she’s been dubbed an angel, and it’s no surprise, as she’s a student training to be a nurse at Jiu Ren High School.

Wu Shan-ni
Kind student
I didn’t think too much about it. I saw he was in need so I helped him.

Her school has awarded her with a prize for demonstrating the caring spirit of medical workers. The school principal also urged her to consider her own safety as well.

Hsu Hsiu-hui
Jiu Ren High School Principal
We’re happy but also worried. We’re very glad that our student was so willing to help others and turn words into deeds. But we’re also a bit concerned, since the person in question was a man. While we praised her actions in front of everyone, it was also a good opportunity to get students to pay attention to their own safety.

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Baseball legend Oh Sadaharu conferred 1st Class Order of Brilliant Star

On Thursday, President Lai Ching-te conferred the Order of Brilliant Star with Special Grand Cordon to baseball legend Oh Sadaharu, or Wang Chen-chih, for his contribution to the sports both to Japan, his permanent home, and for inspiring Taiwan, of which he is a citizen. This makes him the first athlete to receive the honor in the nation’s history. The president also said he’s especially delighted to present his idol the award as a baseball fan.

Professional baseball legend Oh Sadaharu, or Wang Chen-chih, is conferred the first class of the Order of the Brilliant Star by the president, for his notable contribution in the sport on an international level, owing both to his skill and distinct mixed heritage. The conference also makes him the first sports professional to receive the decoration in the nation’s history.

Lai Ching-te
President
It is an immense honor on a personal level to present my idol the order as a baseball fan. What’s even more touching is that Mr. Wang Chen-chih not only contributed to Japanese baseball, but also contributed to the sport in Taiwan. Whether as a player, team head coach or national team manager, he never once wavered over several decades.

Oh Sadaharu
Baseball legend
I am very touched by the president’s words of encouragement, and deeply honored. I hope that Taiwan’s baseball can continue to make strides forward on the level of top international tournaments. Taiwan can also join hands with Japan to further promote baseball in Asia, so that the sport becomes even more popular and advanced.

To date, no one in the world has yet to break Oh Sadaharu’s 868 homeruns over his professional career. It is an understatement to say that he’s a legend in Japanese baseball, or even globally. On March 6, Taiwan will be playing against Japan at the 2026 World Baseball Classic. Of course, the president will be watching the game.

Lai Ching-te
President
Playing against Team Taiwan, Japan will be sending their best pitcher, Yamamoto Yoshinobu to play against Taiwan. This shows that Team Japan holds Team Taiwan in high regard.

Oh Sadaharu
Baseball legend
I’ve followed Taiwanese baseball for many years. I believe the lineup to compete in this year’s World Baseball Classic is the best ever in history. I also believe that this time, Taiwan and Japan will definitely enter the finals together in the US. That, I am very sure of.

The two countries being Oh Sadaharu’s heritage and home respectively is not lost, and he also hopes to see both making it to the finals.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#SadaharuOh #baseball #WSB #sports #mixedheritage

2026-02-26