중매하는 정부 (2010년 6월 22일)

 대만 국영 중앙통신사(CNA)에서 보내온 기사를 보니, 정부가 중매쟁이로 나설 거라고 합니다.

내정부(Ministry of the Interior)가 미혼 직원들을 위해 적어도 일년에 한 번씩 중매행사를 마련할 거라고

하는데, 이런 결정은 하게 된 것은 대만의 낮은 출생률 때문이라고 합니다. 대만은 작년을 기해 세계에서 제일 낮은 출생률 국가 중 하나가 되었습니다. 인구 1,000명당 출생하는 아기 수가 8.29명이라고 합니다. 우리나라 형편도 비슷합니다. 한편에서는 내정부엔 미혼여성이 많고 경찰청엔 미혼남성이 많으니 양편을 이어주면 좋겠다는 말이 나오고, 한편에선 내정부의 이런 노력이 내정부의 미혼여성들에게 부당한 압력으로 작용할 거라고 우려합니다. 낮은 출생률을 걱정하는 정부마다 고육지책을 내놓고 있지만 삶의 비용이 너무 높고, 남녀차별이 시정되지 않는 한 출생률의 증가는 기대하기 어려울 겁니다. 아래에 원문 대부분을 옮겨 놓았으니 한 번 읽어 보시지요. 

 

Taipei, June 20 (CNA): The Ministry of the Interior (MOI) said recently that it will organize match-making activities for its unmarried workers as part of its efforts to improve the country's birth rate.

 

Minister of the Interior Jiang Yi-huah said he has asked his Personnel Office to organize the match-making activities at least once per year for single staff members in every agency under the MOI.

 

"As the agency in charge of the country's population policy, the Interior Ministry should serve as an example in boosting the birth rate." Jiang said.

 

Jiang's proposal came under heavy discussion at a meeting of senior officials of the ministry, with some suggesting that match- making activities could be held between MOI departments staffed by many unmarried women and the National Police Administration which has many single male police officers.

 

But some people at the meeting expressed concern that high-profile match-making activities could impose undue pressure on unmarried MOI workers...

 

As part of its efforts to boost the country's birth rate, the MOI is offering a prize of NT$1 million (US$31,121) to anyone who comes up with a slogan that will help convince people to have more children.

Taiwan's birth rate declined from 12 in every 1,000 population in 1999 to 8.29 in every 1,000 population in 2009, which was one of the lowest in the world that year.

The country's leaders have become alarmed at the trend, seeing it as a threat to economic growth, and have assigned the Ministry of the Interior the task of dealing with the issue.