IS TAIWAN A PLACE UNFRIENDLY TO MOTHERS?

When Taiwan celebrated Mother's Day last weekend, several women's groups called attention to the ironic fact that fewer women are willing to become mothers these days, as current social and economic conditions generally discourage child rearing.

DPP lawmaker Huang Sue-ying said the government should address the issue by offering birth insurance as well as more financial incentives for motherhood.

A new born baby is a mother's biggest joy.

And a mother's biggest wish is to see her child growing up healthy.

But now, there are less and less people that want to be mothers. According to the Interior Ministry's statistics, last year's birth rate is only 0.91.

On average, a woman gives birth to less than one kid in her lifetime.

Businesses all know how to create an atmosphere for Mother's Day.

But female social groups are criticizing that the government is the only one that doesn't know how.

DPP legislator Huang Sueying said the KMT should support the birth insurance bill to encourage women to give birth and for the government to take responsibility.

This bill should pass soon as a Mother's Day present for next year.

According to statistics, 16 women died while giving birth in 2009, while 452 babies died before they were one month old. All these families are targets for receiving financial care. Additionally, Huang said the National Citizen subsidy should also include child birth subsidy.

Actual actions by the government to support mothers are the only way to solve the nation's declining birth rate.

◆ 追蹤更多華視影音及圖文新聞：
1.用Plurk追蹤華視影音及圖文新聞：追蹤
2.用Twitter追蹤華視影音及圖文新聞：追蹤