Taiwan Cracks Down on Illegal Childcare: Minister Says Police Can Assist, Communities Cannot Refuse Inspections

(Central News Agency, Reporter Shen Peiyao, Taipei, 11th) Multiple childcare groups today urged the government to strictly investigate illegal daycare. Health and Welfare Minister Shih Chung-liang responded that if inspectors are blocked by building managers, they can request police assistance, and communities "cannot refuse" entry. He urged parents to use public information to verify whether caregivers are legally registered.

The call follows an illegal daycare case in Taoyuan City, where 20 infants and toddlers were cared for in a 10-ping (approx. 33 sqm) space. Representatives of several childcare groups held a press conference today, making three demands: strict investigation and crackdown on illegal and underground daycare, strengthening proactive intervention mechanisms for high-risk families and underground care settings, and reviewing regulatory policies that concentrate resources on legal institutions.

Health and Welfare Minister Shih Chung-liang, speaking to media after an event at noon, stated that the Legislative Yuan has passed the third reading of the Childcare Service Act, which provides clear penalties and grants public authority for enforcement.

Shih said that if inspectors are refused entry by management of residential complexes or apartment buildings, the Ministry of Health and Welfare has notified local governments that they can request assistance from local police. He also demanded that building management "cannot refuse" entry, as this constitutes lawful execution of official duties, and vowed strict enforcement in the future.

He also reminded parents that information on all legally registered childcare institutions nationwide is publicly available. Before entrusting their children, parents should proactively check whether the institution is legally registered, and verify caregiver qualifications, the number of children in care, and environmental safety, rather than choosing based solely on price or convenience.

Chang Mei-mei, Deputy Director of the Social and Family Affairs Administration under the Ministry of Health and Welfare, added that while the Ministry of Labor has opened the hiring of foreign domestic workers for families with children under 12, priority is given to families with special needs, such as those with disabled children, and not everyone is eligible to hire foreign workers for childcare.

Regarding the prevention of illegal cases, Chang stated that current city and county inspectors actively patrol online for illegal recruitment advertisements and monitor communities for illegal daycare signs. The newly amended Childcare Service Act explicitly states that no one may refuse a childcare inspection. Regarding how to facilitate inspectors' entry into residential buildings, the ministry will continue to communicate with the Ministry of the Interior and will request police assistance when necessary. (Editor: Guan Zhongwei) 1150611