Cho urges newlyweds to have children at Chunghwa Telecom mass wedding

Taipei, Sept. 13 (CNA) Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) encouraged newlyweds to have children while attending a mass wedding organized by Chunghwa Telecom in Taipei on Sunday, where 72 couples tied the knot.

Cho, who served as a witness at the ceremony held at the Grand Hotel, thanked the newlyweds for taking a step that could help Taiwan "effectively address its demographic challenges," referring to the country's low birth rate.

Data from the Ministry of the Interior showed that Taiwan's total fertility rate fell to 0.695 in 2025 -- one of the lowest in the world -- while the number of births dropped for a 10th consecutive year to a record-low 107,812.

While encouraging the couples to have children, Cho stressed that childbirth remains a personal choice.

"Marriage is everyone's right, and having children is everyone's choice. It is definitely not a responsibility or obligation," he said.

For couples planning to start families, Cho urged them to make use of government support, highlighting plans for a NT$5,000 (US$158) monthly child-rearing allowance starting next year, expanded childcare services and measures aimed at easing housing and education costs.

The premier also said he hoped state-owned enterprises would organize more large-scale mass weddings, noting that Taiwan Power Co. is also planning to hold one.

At least one person in each of the 72 newlywed couples works for Chunghwa Telecom, and in five cases, both spouses are employees of the largest telecommunications company in Taiwan.

Chunghwa Telecom Chairman Alex Chien (簡志誠) said the company began holding mass weddings in 1963 and has held them almost every year since, with around 800 couples taking part since 2010.

Chien also told the couples he hoped they would "have children soon."

He highlighted company measures to support employees starting families, including an NT$80,000 childbirth subsidy, a seven-hour workday with eight hours' pay for employees with children under 6, and 18 workplace childcare facilities nationwide.

Newlyweds weigh costs of starting families

Among the newlyweds was 44-year-old senior engineer Lin Kuan-nan (林冠男), who said he and his wife plan to have one child.

A 19-year employee of Chunghwa Telecom, Lin said the planned NT$5,000 monthly allowance had "some appeal," but added that the amount would "definitely not be enough" amid rising living costs.

"Of course, the more the better," he said, adding that he hoped the government could provide additional subsidies.

Dino Chen, a senior engineer who has worked at Chunghwa Telecom for five years, said he and his wife plan to have a child in one or two years, but added that the government's current support showed "sincerity" but remained insufficient.

"Once you take on a mortgage, you might have to pay NT$20,000 to NT$30,000 a month," the 30-year-old said, identifying housing as their "main" concern.

While Chen acknowledged that "there is definitely pressure," he said his wife also works and that they share the mortgage payments, easing the financial burden.