Monday is Father’s Day in Taiwan. It’s an occasion dedicated to celebrating dads across the country, but one recent study shows that many fathers might be too busy working a second job to take part in the festivities.
It’s the middle of the night, and a taxi driver asks his passenger if he can make a quick stop. The driver stops and comforts his child who just wants to see his dad. Scenes like this might be more commonplace than before. Fathers around Taiwan are working hard to raise families.
On Father’s Day in Taiwan, one online job bank conducted a survey to see just how hard they’re working. The study found that 47% of fathers work second jobs to provide for their families. Food delivery, ridesharing, manual labor, logistics and admin work are just a few of the more popular moonlighting options for dads.
50-year-old Mr. Li is a single father of two. He was a purchasing manager but was sent into early retirement. Now, to care for his children, he’s gained a commercial license to operate high-capacity vehicles.
The job bank’s survey is a reminder of the precarious existence many working parents live in Taiwan. But it’s also a testament, this Father’s Day, to the lengths dads will go for their families.