According to FOCUS TAIWAN, the Cabinet put forth a plan to offer families with young children a one-off subsidy of NT$10,000 (US$357) per child, as part of a COVID-19 relief package that is currently under discussion, according to a government spokesperson.
The child subsidy was discussed during a Cabinet-level meeting earlier in the day to talk about financial assistance to people affected by a domestic outbreak of the disease and the subsequent government restrictions imposed under a Level 3 alert, Cabinet spokesman Lo Ping-cheng (羅秉成) said.
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Taiwanese government offers subsidies during the level 3 alert. Image courtesy of
Executive Yuan.
FOCUS TAIWAN mentions, in total, the subsidy will cover an estimated of 2.45 million children up to elementary school level and some 50,000 teenage students with disabilities, Lo said, adding that the full details are expected to be finalized by June 3.
The initial plan, however, is to begin distribution of the child subsidy on June 15, pending passage of an amendment bill in the Legislature, which would allow the government to increase its COVID-19 relief budget from NT$420 billion to NT$630 billion, according to Lo.
Taiwanese government offers subsidies during the level 3 alert. Image courtesy of
CNA.
FOCUS TAIWAN says, apart from the NT$10,000 child subsidy, the NT$630 billion is expected to go toward helping the individuals and industries hardest hit by the pandemic and the disease control restrictions, and it will include loans to people in need, according to the Cabinet.
For instance, a one-time subsidy of NT$10,000-NT$30,000 is planned for farmers, fishermen, tour guides, taxi drivers and the self-employed, it said.
In addition, employees in industries heavily affected by the restrictions will each receive a monthly subsidy of NT$20,000, with the roll-out planned for June 4, the Cabinet said.
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