The Executive Yuan today approved a draft bill titled “child care services act” to independently regulate a range of childcare services for children aged up to two years old.
Under the act, in severe instances of physical, psychological or sexual abuse of children aged two and under, including improper discipline, bullying and harassment, the name of the caregiver and childcare institutions would be publicized and the maximum fine set at NT$600,000.
In less severe instances of misconduct, fines would range from NT$6,000 to NT$60,000 and if the head of the institution reports the incident before authorities are informed, the institution’s name would not be disclosed.
Photo: Chen Chih-chu, Taipei Times
Institutions must also retain video surveillance footage in internet-based cloud storage with off-site backup for 30 days and obtain approval from the relevant municipality or county-level authority before hiring staff.
Failure to comply with the above two regulations would result in fines of NT$30,000 to NT$300,000 and a deadline for corrective action, failing which multiple fines may be issued, enrollment suspended for six months or operations ceased for one to three years.
In severe violations, institutions may have their operating license revoked.
Institutions must further disclose personnel qualifications, the number of children enrolled and details about fees and refunds while maintaining accounting records.
The act also covered diversified childcare methods, adjusting the necessary qualifications for in-home caregivers by removing the previous allowance for entry based solely on training.
The new act follows the 2023 death of a one-year-old boy, nicknamed Kai Kai (剴剴), after allegedly being beaten to death by his caregivers, prompting reform in the related legislation.
The act contains six chapters and 78 articles and would be sent to the Legislative Yuan for review.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) would respond to public demand and begin drafting the act’s many supporting regulations before the bill has passed the third reading at the Legislative Yuan, Deputy Minister of Health and Welfare Chou Jih-haw (周志浩) said today at a news conference held after a cabinet meeting.
The MOHW aims to complete all supporting measures within six months of the bill’s passage, he added.
According to the MOHW, from 2018 until March of this year, the number of public childcare institutions in Taiwan has risen from 98 to 502, private daycare centers offering public services rose from 662 to 1,130 and in-home caregivers increased from 17,700 to 23,100.
The percentage of children placed in care outside the home also jumped from 9.43 percent to 26.95 percent during this period, reflecting an increased demand for childcare services.
Additional reporting by CNA
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