MOL reviewing Lai's proposal to extend live-in helper eligibility

Taipei, Sept. 8 (CNA) The Ministry of Labor (MOL) said Monday that it is reviewing a proposal by President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) to extend eligibility to hire migrant domestic helpers to families with only one child.

In an interview published on the same day by the Chinese-language Liberty Times, Lai said his administration is deliberating the policy as part of its commitment to addressing social and livelihood needs.

Under the current system, eligible households include parents of children under 6 years old, and individuals with a parent or in-law who is 75 years old or older.

Households must meet certain criteria under a point-based system and score 16 points to recruit a migrant domestic helper.

For example, households with three children under 6 years old and those with four children, two of whom are under 6 years old, are eligible to apply.

The MOL reiterated that alleviating the childcare burden remains a key government priority.

It noted that it recently introduced more flexible parental leave policies and will continue reviewing migrant domestic worker regulations while taking into account public opinion.

As of the end of July, there were 2,000 migrant domestic helpers in Taiwan, MOL statistics showed.