Hsu Hsin-ying proposes 2030 night childcare and toddler classes for dual-income families

Hsu Hsin-ying, the Kuomintang candidate for Hsinchu County Magistrate, officially released her third wave of campaign policies this Tuesday, centered on the theme "2030 Hsinchu Female Power." Coming at a critical juncture in the local elections, Hsu emphasized enhancing female participation and family well-being as core objectives during community briefings across Hsinchu County, seeking the support of dual-income families through concrete improvements in childcare services. Her policy proposals are not merely campaign slogans, but rather practical solutions responding to recent demographic shifts and the trend of declining birth rates in Hsinchu County.

The concept of "2030 Hsinchu Female Power" stems from long-standing government and civic attention toward women's employment and reproductive environments. According to statistics, Hsinchu County's birth rate continues to lag behind the national average, and the proportion of dual-income families is steadily rising. Childcare costs and time pressures have become major factors hindering childbirth. Hsu pointed out that to enhance women's competitiveness in the labor market by 2030, conflicts between family and the workplace must first be resolved, particularly issues regarding insufficient childcare resources and schedule flexibility.

Regarding specific measures, Hsu proposed three key points. First is strengthening nighttime and holiday temporary childcare services, allowing parents to find reliable care facilities when working overtime or on shift rotations. Second is adding specialized classes for two-year-olds to provide professional care targeting early childhood development and reduce delays in parents returning to work due to a lack of age-appropriate childcare. Third is planning the "Hsinchu County Childcare Resources App," which integrates childcare centers, babysitter information, and real-time reservation functions to enhance information transparency and ease of use. These initiatives aim to bridge the gaps in childcare time and resources for dual-income families through institutionalized and technological means.

This move echoes the "Childcare-Friendly City" policies promoted by the central government in recent years, though implementation still faces budget, human resource, and venue constraints. In the past, childcare centers in Hsinchu County were largely concentrated in urban areas, and service provision in remote townships remained noticeably insufficient. If Hsu's proposals secure county government budget allocations and cooperation with private resources, they will help balance childcare resources across districts and potentially boost local employment opportunities, particularly the demand for babysitters and early childhood educators. On the other hand, the Kuomintang's policies regarding the birth rate issue have been relatively conservative nationwide in recent years; using "female power" as an entry point is also a strategic adjustment to attract support from young families and female voters.

Nevertheless, the implementation of these policies still needs to overcome multiple challenges. First is fiscal pressure; the tax structure and expenditure balance of Hsinchu County require meticulous planning. Second is the transformation of the operational models of existing childcare facilities. How to improve service quality without increasing the burden on parents is the key to policy design. If these issues can be properly resolved, Hsu's childcare policies will not only boost voters' trust in her leadership capabilities, but may also establish a model for Hsinchu County's countermeasures against declining birth rates nationwide, further promoting a social atmosphere of gender equality and family friendliness. (Source: Central News Agency)