HIV-Positive School Bus Driver Case Sparks Debate on Child Worker Certification; Ministry Aims to Submit Bill by Year-End

Central News Agency Report

(CNA reporters Chen Chieh-ling and Shen Pei-yao, Taipei, June 16) A case involving an HIV-positive school bus driver in central Taiwan accused of sexual assault has sparked public debate on the proposed 'child and youth worker certification' system. The Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) plans to replace physical certificates with a data inquiry platform, and the revised draft of the Child and Youth Welfare Act is expected to be submitted to the Legislative Yuan by the end of this year.

MOHW Minister Shih Chong-liang addressed the media before attending an event this morning. He stated that the plan does not involve issuing physical certificates but instead provides authorized institutions with access to query relevant records. The system will integrate multiple data sources into a comprehensive platform, requiring employers (institutions) to conduct background checks during hiring.

Shih said the draft amendment to the 'Child and Youth Welfare and Rights Protection Act' has completed its public comment period and is now undergoing final opinion consolidation. Initial feedback has been relatively concentrated, and the draft will subsequently be submitted to the Executive Yuan, followed by the Legislative Yuan after procedural completion.

Director-General Chou Tao-chun of the MOHW's Social and Family Affairs Administration noted that the public consultation period for the Child and Youth Welfare Act amendment received a large volume of feedback. Key concerns centered on three main areas: first, the classification of inappropriate treatment toward children and youth; second, how future cases involving inappropriate treatment or care between school staff and students will be handled in alignment with existing education laws; and third, the child and youth worker certification system.

Chou explained that many civil groups have long advocated for Taiwan to adopt a child worker certification system modeled after Australia. The current amendment attempts to respond through legislative provisions. While civil groups generally support the introduction of such a system, there remain differing opinions on which fields and job categories should be included, requiring further evaluation.

Regarding the design of the certification system, Chou said the draft takes an enumerative approach, initially including fields deemed necessary. For categories difficult to fully list in legal text, supplementary announcements will be issued in the future. Some stakeholders argue that certain fields or occupations should be explicitly defined in law—for example, whether the medical sector should be included—remain topics for further assessment.

On the legislative timeline, Chou stated that the public consultation ended in late May, and public hearings across regions concluded in early June. The ministry is currently consolidating online and in-person feedback and expects to finalize the draft revisions within one to two months, aiming to submit it to the Executive Yuan by August or September.

Chou noted that the scale of this amendment is substantial, with the draft containing over 160 articles—significantly more than the current 110. If additional proposals from various sectors are incorporated, the number of articles could approach 200. The overall goal remains to complete Executive Yuan review and submit the bill to the Legislative Yuan within this year, striving for early deliberation.

An HIV-positive school bus driver in central Taiwan has been implicated in a case of sexual assault, with five confirmed infections linked to the incident and the transmission chain spreading across three counties and cities. (Editor: Li Heng-shan) 1150616