In the News

MOI poll highlights women’s living conditions

The latest MOI survey on Taiwan women's living conditions reveals that many respondents are burning the candle at both ends as full-time employees and homemakers. (Photo: Huang Chung-hsin)

• Publication Date：07/27/2012
• Source： Taiwan Today
• By  Rachel Chan

Women in Taiwan shoulder a bigger load of household chores with a growing number having no disposable income, according to a survey released July 26 by the ROC Ministry of the Interior.

The poll, which was conducted last year, surveyed women aged 15 to 64 islandwide. It shed light on the living conditions of respondents and is seen as a key indicator of satisfaction levels with central government social welfare policy.

A total of 49.39 percent of respondents are full-time employees, while the remainder are homemakers, students or unemployed. Over the past year, 61.41 percent had an average monthly income of NT$27,331 (US$908) from alimony, insurance annuities, investment returns, rent or salary.

Of these, 82.27 percent used their money for household expenses, with 44 percent stating that they had nothing left after paying bills.

Pong Sheng-ming, director of MOI Department of Statistics, said the poll also found that 38.59 percent had no earnings over the past year, a 12.5 percent rise from 2007.

According to the survey, 34.97 percent of women are in charge of household finances, with 26 percent stating this is the responsibility of parents or in-laws and 17.96 percent their spouse.

When it comes to household duties, women spend an average 1.79 hours per day compared to 6.4 for those with children under 12 and 5.97 for those caring for incapacitated seniors.

Lin Shih-fang, secretary-general of the nongovernmental organization Awakening Foundation, said the results reflect the fact that traditional cultural values require women to take on most of the household responsibilities.

“Tough economic conditions are forcing women to juggle jobs and household responsibilities,” Lin said. “The government should address this growing trend and come up with a policy to address the issue.”

The poll’s effective sample size was 6,455 with a 95 percent confidence rate and a 1.22-point margin of error. (JSM)

Write to Rachel Chan at ccchan@mofa.gov.tw