Labor ministry announces higher incentives for youth employment support program

Taipei, Aug. 27 (CNA) Taiwan's Ministry of Labor (MOL) on Wednesday unveiled a new youth employment support program, raising monthly allowances for first-time job seekers to NT$6,000 (US$196) and offering additional incentives for those who achieve stable employment.

The program, set to take effect Sept. 1, is aimed at young people between 15 and 29 who are entering the job market for the first time.

The MOL said it designed the initiative to address the risk of long-term unemployment caused by international trade factors such as tariffs.

According to Huang Chiao-ting (黃巧婷), employment services division chief at the MOL's Workforce Development Agency (WDA), about 85 percent of young workers find their first job within three months.

But she said "instability" in the job market linked to "tariff policies and international circumstances" could make job hunting more difficult.

The new program expands on the existing first-time job seeker stable employment program by shortening the required period of unemployment from 90 to 60 days.

Huang said applicants must not be enrolled in school or engaged in full-time work and must have been unemployed for at least 60 consecutive days to be eligible for up to three months of financial support.

Huang said those who find work during the support period and remain employed for 90 days can receive NT$20,000, while those who stay employed for 180 days may apply for an additional NT$10,000 of government money.

MOL data shows that 20,015 people registered for the program in 2024, with 9,826 meeting eligibility requirements.

Of those, 7,333 received allowances totaling NT$64 million, and 5,554 collected incentives totaling more than NT$140 million.