Taipei: Taiwan will implement a series of new regulations in 2026, including higher minimum monthly and hourly wages, stricter driver's license tests, and fines for cat owners who fail to microchip their pets.
According to Focus Taiwan, these changes are part of a broader initiative to enhance social welfare, transportation, and public health across the nation.
Starting in 2026, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) will introduce 17 rule changes for driver's license tests, including making written tests for scooters and cars fully multiple-choice. The age for senior license renewals will be lowered from 75 to 70, and drivers committing repeated traffic violations will be required to attend a mandatory lecture. In the realm of social welfare, the Long-term Care 3.0 plan will expand its reach to include younger dementia patients and enhance subsidies for those with severe disabilities, while also incorporating smart health care technologies.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) will allocate NT$81.9 billion to the Social Safety Net 2.0 program, targeting solitary deaths and child abuse prevention with AI technologies and community outreach. Furthermore, Taiwan's minimum wage will see a 3.18 percent increase, marking the 10th consecutive annual hike since 2014. Workers will also gain more flexible parental leave options and protection against adverse actions for taking sick leave.
In a bid to strengthen Taiwan's workforce, new policies will increase foreign worker quotas in key sectors and facilitate international recruitment. The agricultural sector will see a conditional resumption of using food waste as pig feed, amid concerns of African swine fever transmission. Additionally, all cat owners will need to microchip their pets by 2026 or face fines, aiming to curb abandonment and illegal breeding.
In Taipei, public transport users will soon be able to pay fares using QR codes, while Taichung will offer financial support to families with newborns and provide weekly milk to students. New Taipei will exempt low-income families from certain columbarium fees and enhance newborn incentives, while Keelung plans community security subsidies and stricter garbage disposal penalties. Yilan County will increase maternity and prenatal transportation subsidies to support local mothers.