As the Executive Yuan drafts next year’s government budget, an emphasis on social programs can be seen, with spending estimated to grow 6.6 percent annually, or NT$30 billion, and reaching more than NT$520 billion. In particular, next year’s budget reflects the government’s priority to provide additional assistance to youth and the disadvantaged, with earmarked expenditure on the demographic set to exceed NT$600 billion, said Minister Chu Tzer-ming of the Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting, and Statistics (DGBAS).

Minister Chu said that Premier Su Tseng-Chang’s five main administrative objectives are improving people’s daily lives, the economy, bolstering cultural development, assisting the disadvantage and safeguarding democracy. Reflecting those objectives, as part of next year’s government budget, social welfare spending and relevant allowances required by law will increase 6.6 percent, higher than the overall government spending increase of 5.2 percent. In addition to social welfare programs, government funds will also include subsidies for the disadvantaged, such as the New Migrant Development Fund.

Minister Chu said that funds managed by the Ministry of Health and Welfare include those that aid low income households as well as those affected by drug injuries, as well as loans of the National Health Insurance Poverty Relief Fund.

For youths, the government has earmarked NT$44 billion to address declining birthrates, representing an annual increase of 48 percent to provide stipends for households with new births as to encourage people to have more children. Other spending includes expanding public kindergartens and to encourage private kindergartens to participate in public programs. Minister Chu voiced hopes that the expanded government programs would help ease the pressure of child-rearing among younger parents.

【2019-07-31 / Liberty Times】