On Friday in Taiwan legislator said that they are planning to form a new law for the cases of abandonment. Under this law the proposal is made that the adults who are not taking proper care of their elderly parents will face jail or the punishment.

This bill is proposed by the lawmaker Lai- Shyh- bao. He said that under this bill, people who fail to look after their elderly parents will face up to one year in prison or a maximum fine of $6,600.  According to this bill these people will also be forced to pay for the living expenses of their parents with the mandatory deductions from their wages or by making a lump sum payment or putting money in a trust. This bill is proposed after a huge number of cases of abandonment these days. According to an survey every year 2000 people aged 65 and over are abandoned by their children’s and the number of cases has grown by 30% annually in recent years.

The officers of lawmaker said that this percentage is an alarming trend that we cannot ignore as it will lead to more and more social problems as Taiwan’s society ages rapidly. They again that if this bill will enacted, so Taiwan will also join other countries such as Singapore that are legally enforcing to take care of the elderly parents.

Jail for abandoning parents

Report by Dushyant Tiwari