Special work permits would become mandatory for all professions involving contact with children and people aged 18 or younger, according to a Ministry of Health and Welfare notice on draft amendments to the Child and Juvenile Welfare and Rights Protection Act (兒童及少年福利與權益保障法).
The Social and Family Affairs Administration yesterday said that despite multiple minor revisions, the act — promulgated in 2011 — has increasingly diverged from contemporary social conditions, including evolving family structures and technological developments.
Agency Director-General Chou Tao-chun (周道君) said the amendments draw on the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and expand the act to 165 articles.
Photo: CNA
Administrative adjustments implemented following the high-profile “Kai Kai” (剴剴) case would be given a clear legal basis, Chou said.
Kai Kai was a one-year-old who died on Dec. 24, 2023, after being abused by his two caregivers.
In a ruling on May 13 last year, one of the caregivers was sentenced to life imprisonment for abuse resulting in death, while the other was sentenced to 18 years.
The amendments more clearly define the roles and responsibilities of local competent authorities in adoption processes, Chou said.
Whereas earlier provisions focused primarily on inappropriate parental conduct, the revised draft adopts a framework aligned with the CRC, categorizing misconduct into more explicit forms, including physical or psychological abuse, neglect and inappropriate sexual behavior.
The amendments would introduce a permit system for industries involving working with children, long advocated by civic groups, which Chou said would help bridge gaps between legal frameworks and institutional regulations that restrict employment in child-related fields.
The agency is holding a hearing next month to get input from civic groups and experts, Chou said.
Deputy Minister of Health and Welfare Lu Chien-te (呂建德) said the draft represents a comprehensive review of Taiwan’s child and youth welfare framework, incorporating recommendations from international observers while addressing changes driven by technological advancement and shifting norms.
The ministry would continue public consultations and aims to finalize amendments that strengthen protections for children and adolescents while ensuring the system remains practical and aligned with societal expectations, Lu said.
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