Major Amendment to Child and Youth Welfare Act After 'Kai Kai Case', Child and Youth Work Permit Included for First Time
Taiwan's Ministry of Health and Welfare announced a draft amendment to the Child and Youth Welfare and Rights Protection Act, introducing a 'Child and Youth Work Permit' system for the first time, requiring anyone working with children under 18 to apply.
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- 📰 Published: April 21, 2026 at 15:47
- 🔍 Collected: April 21, 2026 at 16:01 (14 min after Published)
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Central News Agency
(Central News Agency, Taipei, April 21, reporter Shen Peiyao) The "Child and Youth Welfare and Rights Protection Act" has not undergone a major amendment for 15 years. The Ministry of Health and Welfare today announced a draft amendment, which for the first time includes the "Child and Youth Work Permit" system. In the future, anyone engaged in work that involves contact with children under 18 must apply.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare's Social and Family Affairs Administration today announced the draft amendment to the "Child and Youth Welfare and Rights Protection Act," with a 30-day public comment period. According to the general explanation, although the Child and Youth Welfare Act has been amended 10 times since its implementation in 2011, its legal content can no longer fully connect with the current situation due to changes in the social environment, family structures, and technological development.
Zhou Daojun, Director-General of the Social and Family Affairs Administration, explained in a media interview that the major amendment to the Child and Youth Welfare Act after 15 years primarily reorganizes its structure with reference to the "Convention on the Rights of the Child" (CRC) and reflects social issues of concern in recent years. The number of articles has also significantly increased to 165.
Zhou Daojun stated that after the "Kai Kai case," administrative adjustments have been made. This amendment further addresses the legislative level, clearly stipulating the role and positioning of local competent authorities in the child adoption and foster care process.
Secondly, regarding child protection, Zhou Daojun explained that in the past, the focus was on inappropriate behaviors that parents should not engage in towards children. This time, referring to the CRC, it is concretized into types such as "physical violence," "mental violence," "neglect of care," and "sexual misconduct." In the future, there will be clearer legal basis for investigation and handling procedures.
The draft also responds to "alternative care." Zhou Daojun stated that for out-of-home care, both the requirements for personnel qualifications and situations of unsuitability have been increased with more specific regulations and revisions, including newly added care resources and models in recent years, all of which are given clearer positioning.
Notably, the "Child and Youth Work Permit" system, which civil society organizations have advocated for a long time, is included in the draft for the first time. Zhou Daojun said that this amendment attempts to consider how the system can be harmonized with existing regulations on prohibited employment in institutions and venues, incorporating the scope of application, employment procedures, and responsibilities of this system into the draft articles. Opinions from all sectors are currently being solicited, and a public hearing is expected to be held in mid-May.
Deputy Minister Lu Jian-de of the Ministry of Health and Welfare emphasized that this comprehensive review of the Child and Youth Welfare Act is a key upgrade in Taiwan's child human rights protection system. It not only responds to international review recommendations but also addresses new risks brought by changing family patterns and the digital environment, strengthening the social safety system from an institutional perspective.
Lu Jian-de stated that they will continue to dialogue with all sectors of society, and under the premise of safeguarding the best interests of children and youth, achieve institutional feasibility and social consensus, and steadily promote the completion of the amendment. (Editor: Wu Surou) 1150421
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(Central News Agency, Taipei, April 21, reporter Shen Peiyao) The "Child and Youth Welfare and Rights Protection Act" has not undergone a major amendment for 15 years. The Ministry of Health and Welfare today announced a draft amendment, which for the first time includes the "Child and Youth Work Permit" system. In the future, anyone engaged in work that involves contact with children under 18 must apply.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare's Social and Family Affairs Administration today announced the draft amendment to the "Child and Youth Welfare and Rights Protection Act," with a 30-day public comment period. According to the general explanation, although the Child and Youth Welfare Act has been amended 10 times since its implementation in 2011, its legal content can no longer fully connect with the current situation due to changes in the social environment, family structures, and technological development.
Zhou Daojun, Director-General of the Social and Family Affairs Administration, explained in a media interview that the major amendment to the Child and Youth Welfare Act after 15 years primarily reorganizes its structure with reference to the "Convention on the Rights of the Child" (CRC) and reflects social issues of concern in recent years. The number of articles has also significantly increased to 165.
Zhou Daojun stated that after the "Kai Kai case," administrative adjustments have been made. This amendment further addresses the legislative level, clearly stipulating the role and positioning of local competent authorities in the child adoption and foster care process.
Secondly, regarding child protection, Zhou Daojun explained that in the past, the focus was on inappropriate behaviors that parents should not engage in towards children. This time, referring to the CRC, it is concretized into types such as "physical violence," "mental violence," "neglect of care," and "sexual misconduct." In the future, there will be clearer legal basis for investigation and handling procedures.
The draft also responds to "alternative care." Zhou Daojun stated that for out-of-home care, both the requirements for personnel qualifications and situations of unsuitability have been increased with more specific regulations and revisions, including newly added care resources and models in recent years, all of which are given clearer positioning.
Notably, the "Child and Youth Work Permit" system, which civil society organizations have advocated for a long time, is included in the draft for the first time. Zhou Daojun said that this amendment attempts to consider how the system can be harmonized with existing regulations on prohibited employment in institutions and venues, incorporating the scope of application, employment procedures, and responsibilities of this system into the draft articles. Opinions from all sectors are currently being solicited, and a public hearing is expected to be held in mid-May.
Deputy Minister Lu Jian-de of the Ministry of Health and Welfare emphasized that this comprehensive review of the Child and Youth Welfare Act is a key upgrade in Taiwan's child human rights protection system. It not only responds to international review recommendations but also addresses new risks brought by changing family patterns and the digital environment, strengthening the social safety system from an institutional perspective.
Lu Jian-de stated that they will continue to dialogue with all sectors of society, and under the premise of safeguarding the best interests of children and youth, achieve institutional feasibility and social consensus, and steadily promote the completion of the amendment. (Editor: Wu Surou) 1150421
Choose to stand with facts, every sponsorship you make is a force to protect press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency "First-hand News" APP to grasp the latest news in real time.
The text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, publicly transmitted, or utilized without authorization.