New law requires children to visit elderly parents often   

一批法律法規今起實施 子女“常回家看看”寫入法律

新修訂的《老年人權益保障法》今日起正式實施。新法規定，家庭成員應當關心老年人的精神需求，不得忽視、冷落老年人。與老年人分開居住的家庭成員，應當經常看望或者問候老年人。這也被媒體解讀為“常回家看看寫入法律”，不常看望老人將屬違法。[查看全文]

(Ecns) - The newly-amended Law on Protection of the Rights and Interests of the Elderly, which requires adult children to visit their elderly parents often, officially takes effect today.

According to the amendment, family members should care for and look after elderly people "spiritually," and any neglect is forbidden.

The law also requires employers to guarantee their employees' rights to home leave in accordance with regulations.

Moreover, the State must establish and improve family pension support policies, encourage family members to live with aged parents or in nearby neighborhoods, provide conditions for elderly people with migrant spouses or dependents, and offer help to family members who care for the aged.

In addition, local governments at all levels should give priority to qualified elderly people when implementing housing security polices, such as low-rent housing and public rental housing, and retrofitting old houses.

The State must establish and improve welfare regulations for elderly people and increase their welfare, the new law says.

Today, another two regulations made by the Ministry of Civil Affairs, the Pension Institutions Established Licensing Approach and Pension Agency Management Approach, also came into effect.