Social Worker Sentencing Sparks Controversy; Ministry of Health and Welfare Plans Liability Insurance Mechanism
Following the sentencing of a Child Welfare League social worker, Taiwan's Ministry of Health and Welfare announced plans to establish a liability insurance mechanism and clarify legal responsibilities to protect frontline social workers.
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- 📰 Published: April 23, 2026 at 20:14
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(Central News Agency, Reporter Tseng I-ning, Taipei, 23rd) Child Welfare League social worker Chen Shang-chieh was sentenced to 2 years in prison for her involvement in the Kai-Kai case, triggering outrage within the social work community. Deputy Minister of Health and Welfare Lu Chien-te said today that the ministry plans to model a liability insurance system after medical dispute protocols to handle judicial disputes involving social workers. They will also review social worker responsibilities, operational procedures, and support mechanisms.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare today convened social work organizations and university social work departments for a "Public-Private Partnership to Stabilize Social Work Manpower Symposium." After the meeting, Deputy Minister Lu Chien-te told the media that social workers recently feel like frightened birds, fearing that "there are no rewards for merits, but penalties for mistakes." Therefore, the most important task right now is to prevent social workers from breaking the law or facing lawsuits while practicing.
Lu Chien-te stated that he will supervise the departments under his responsibility, encompassing protective social workers, poverty alleviation social workers, and those working with vulnerable families. This involves reviewing and issuing guidelines on professional judgment, legal liabilities, related regulations, job scope, and service content, including the division of responsibilities, operational procedures, and support mechanisms, providing social workers with a clear basis for their practice.
Lu Chien-te noted that they will also study whether to establish a liability insurance or fund in the future, similar to medical disputes. If a social worker encounters a judicial dispute during their duties, related litigation and damage compensation costs could be covered by this insurance or fund. He cited Switzerland as an example where such insurance exists. However, because the differences among the five major categories of social workers are vast, the premium rates, funding sources, and whether to use a fund or insurance require further study.
"This is a crisis, but it is also a very good turning point," Lu Chien-te said. The atmosphere after today's meeting was positive. He hopes to use this opportunity to clarify social work professionalism and possible service processes derived from the Social Safety Net 2.0. Social work professionalism should not only help others but also help themselves; "benefit oneself and then benefit others." Taiwanese social workers generally face the issue of high responsibility but low authority, whereas some social workers abroad possess public authority. The ministry will study amending laws to grant public authority in this regard.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare pointed out 4 key focuses for future work. First, strengthening the child protection and adoption systems, refining local government evaluation mechanisms and matchmaking agency supervision, and establishing cross-system information sharing to ensure service quality and child safety. Second, regarding social workers' professional judgment and legal responsibilities, continuing to invite the judiciary and practitioners for cross-domain discussions to comprehensively review institutional and practical aspects, clarifying boundaries, and promoting integration.
Third, referring to the current liability norm principles for medical personnel, carefully defining the professional discretion and legal liability of social workers, balancing professional support with public interest. Fourth, strengthening the medium-to-long-term human resources support system by focusing on cultivation, retention, supervision, and burden reduction. This includes enhancing legal assistance, studying liability insurance, and introducing digital tools to gradually optimize the work environment and career development.
Lu Chien-te said that in response to the appeals and expectations of social workers, to understand frontline suggestions, they will plan regional symposiums in the North, Central, South, and East to collect frontline opinions and strengthen policy feedback mechanisms. Under the principles of professionalism and responsible governance, they hope to continuously strengthen institutional design and cross-domain communication to ensure comprehensive protection of the rights of children and vulnerable groups. (Editor: Lee Heng-shan) 1150423
The Ministry of Health and Welfare today convened social work organizations and university social work departments for a "Public-Private Partnership to Stabilize Social Work Manpower Symposium." After the meeting, Deputy Minister Lu Chien-te told the media that social workers recently feel like frightened birds, fearing that "there are no rewards for merits, but penalties for mistakes." Therefore, the most important task right now is to prevent social workers from breaking the law or facing lawsuits while practicing.
Lu Chien-te stated that he will supervise the departments under his responsibility, encompassing protective social workers, poverty alleviation social workers, and those working with vulnerable families. This involves reviewing and issuing guidelines on professional judgment, legal liabilities, related regulations, job scope, and service content, including the division of responsibilities, operational procedures, and support mechanisms, providing social workers with a clear basis for their practice.
Lu Chien-te noted that they will also study whether to establish a liability insurance or fund in the future, similar to medical disputes. If a social worker encounters a judicial dispute during their duties, related litigation and damage compensation costs could be covered by this insurance or fund. He cited Switzerland as an example where such insurance exists. However, because the differences among the five major categories of social workers are vast, the premium rates, funding sources, and whether to use a fund or insurance require further study.
"This is a crisis, but it is also a very good turning point," Lu Chien-te said. The atmosphere after today's meeting was positive. He hopes to use this opportunity to clarify social work professionalism and possible service processes derived from the Social Safety Net 2.0. Social work professionalism should not only help others but also help themselves; "benefit oneself and then benefit others." Taiwanese social workers generally face the issue of high responsibility but low authority, whereas some social workers abroad possess public authority. The ministry will study amending laws to grant public authority in this regard.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare pointed out 4 key focuses for future work. First, strengthening the child protection and adoption systems, refining local government evaluation mechanisms and matchmaking agency supervision, and establishing cross-system information sharing to ensure service quality and child safety. Second, regarding social workers' professional judgment and legal responsibilities, continuing to invite the judiciary and practitioners for cross-domain discussions to comprehensively review institutional and practical aspects, clarifying boundaries, and promoting integration.
Third, referring to the current liability norm principles for medical personnel, carefully defining the professional discretion and legal liability of social workers, balancing professional support with public interest. Fourth, strengthening the medium-to-long-term human resources support system by focusing on cultivation, retention, supervision, and burden reduction. This includes enhancing legal assistance, studying liability insurance, and introducing digital tools to gradually optimize the work environment and career development.
Lu Chien-te said that in response to the appeals and expectations of social workers, to understand frontline suggestions, they will plan regional symposiums in the North, Central, South, and East to collect frontline opinions and strengthen policy feedback mechanisms. Under the principles of professionalism and responsible governance, they hope to continuously strengthen institutional design and cross-domain communication to ensure comprehensive protection of the rights of children and vulnerable groups. (Editor: Lee Heng-shan) 1150423