Social Workers Call for Comprehensive Social Safety Net Reform as Labor Conditions Remain Unimproved for 20 Years
During the May 1st Labor Day march in Taiwan, social worker groups demanded comprehensive reform of the social safety net, citing 20 years of unimproved labor conditions. This comes amidst strong backlash after a social worker was convicted in a child abuse death case, highlighting the need for better support and legal clarity for social workers.
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- 📰 Published: May 1, 2026 at 15:55
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Central News Agency
(Central News Agency reporter Tseng Yi-ning, Taipei, May 1) During the May 1st Labor Day march, social worker groups raised demands such as "social workers are not scapegoats," arguing that despite no improvement in social workers' labor conditions for 20 years, they are expected to prop up the entire social safety net. They urged the government to comprehensively reform the social safety net to allow for community participation, preventing it from becoming merely a "social worker net."
Today is May 1st Labor Day. Around 200 social workers from the Taipei Social Workers' Union and related organizations participated in the Labor Day march, shouting demands such as "Social workers are not scapegoats, social workers are not scapegoats, social workers' safety must be guaranteed, grassroots voices must be heard."
The case of a child, Kai-kai, who was abused to death by an unscrupulous caregiver, involved the adoption and foster care services of the Child Welfare League Foundation. In a recent first-instance judgment, Chen Shang-jie, a social worker from the foundation, was sentenced to two years in prison for professional negligence causing death, sparking strong reactions from the social work community.
Hualien Social Workers' Union director and associate professor of the Department of Ethnic Development and Social Work at National Dong Hwa University, Huang Ying-hao, stated in an interview with the Central News Agency at the march today that the conviction has now become a new risk for social workers, making it even more important to pay attention to social workers' labor conditions, hence his decision to step forward.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare recently proposed measures such as amending laws to clarify the legal boundaries of social workers' responsibilities, studying the establishment of a professional review mechanism for social workers similar to judicial psychiatric evaluations, and handling judicial disputes through social worker liability insurance. Huang Ying-hao believes that these tasks are necessary, but the government has not yet taken concrete actions, so now is the time to start building from scratch.
Huang Ying-hao said that what needs more attention is that the "social safety net" should involve public participation. The so-called social safety net should work with the community, strengthen neighborhood and family mutual assistance, allow the community to participate more powerfully, assist vulnerable groups such as children and adolescents, and increase social resilience. However, the current social safety net constantly pushes social workers to conduct case visits, leaving only a "social worker net," thus requiring comprehensive reform.
Regarding labor conditions, Huang Ying-hao pointed out that 20 years ago, when social workers first started forming unions, social workers earned little, had unstable salaries, often worked overtime, and were treated as volunteers. Now, 20 years later, social workers' conditions have not only not improved but many have even begun to suffer from overwork, mental and physical illnesses, and other problems.
Huang Ying-hao said that this is an issue that the entire society should address. If the entire social safety net needs to be propped up by social workers, but frontline social workers are experiencing various physical and mental conditions and are on the verge of collapse, then society should even more recognize the needs of social workers and provide support.
Taipei Social Workers' Union vice president Shen Yao-yi pointed out that the process of negligence review is extremely important, but he hopes that a certain proportion of frontline social workers' voices can be included in the review, not just academics and experts. In addition, when the Ministry of Health and Welfare plans regional seminars in northern, central, southern, and eastern Taiwan, he hopes that notifications can be sent out at least two weeks in advance, and frontline social workers can be widely invited to participate. (Edited by: Chen Ching-fang)1150501
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(Central News Agency reporter Tseng Yi-ning, Taipei, May 1) During the May 1st Labor Day march, social worker groups raised demands such as "social workers are not scapegoats," arguing that despite no improvement in social workers' labor conditions for 20 years, they are expected to prop up the entire social safety net. They urged the government to comprehensively reform the social safety net to allow for community participation, preventing it from becoming merely a "social worker net."
Today is May 1st Labor Day. Around 200 social workers from the Taipei Social Workers' Union and related organizations participated in the Labor Day march, shouting demands such as "Social workers are not scapegoats, social workers are not scapegoats, social workers' safety must be guaranteed, grassroots voices must be heard."
The case of a child, Kai-kai, who was abused to death by an unscrupulous caregiver, involved the adoption and foster care services of the Child Welfare League Foundation. In a recent first-instance judgment, Chen Shang-jie, a social worker from the foundation, was sentenced to two years in prison for professional negligence causing death, sparking strong reactions from the social work community.
Hualien Social Workers' Union director and associate professor of the Department of Ethnic Development and Social Work at National Dong Hwa University, Huang Ying-hao, stated in an interview with the Central News Agency at the march today that the conviction has now become a new risk for social workers, making it even more important to pay attention to social workers' labor conditions, hence his decision to step forward.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare recently proposed measures such as amending laws to clarify the legal boundaries of social workers' responsibilities, studying the establishment of a professional review mechanism for social workers similar to judicial psychiatric evaluations, and handling judicial disputes through social worker liability insurance. Huang Ying-hao believes that these tasks are necessary, but the government has not yet taken concrete actions, so now is the time to start building from scratch.
Huang Ying-hao said that what needs more attention is that the "social safety net" should involve public participation. The so-called social safety net should work with the community, strengthen neighborhood and family mutual assistance, allow the community to participate more powerfully, assist vulnerable groups such as children and adolescents, and increase social resilience. However, the current social safety net constantly pushes social workers to conduct case visits, leaving only a "social worker net," thus requiring comprehensive reform.
Regarding labor conditions, Huang Ying-hao pointed out that 20 years ago, when social workers first started forming unions, social workers earned little, had unstable salaries, often worked overtime, and were treated as volunteers. Now, 20 years later, social workers' conditions have not only not improved but many have even begun to suffer from overwork, mental and physical illnesses, and other problems.
Huang Ying-hao said that this is an issue that the entire society should address. If the entire social safety net needs to be propped up by social workers, but frontline social workers are experiencing various physical and mental conditions and are on the verge of collapse, then society should even more recognize the needs of social workers and provide support.
Taipei Social Workers' Union vice president Shen Yao-yi pointed out that the process of negligence review is extremely important, but he hopes that a certain proportion of frontline social workers' voices can be included in the review, not just academics and experts. In addition, when the Ministry of Health and Welfare plans regional seminars in northern, central, southern, and eastern Taiwan, he hopes that notifications can be sent out at least two weeks in advance, and frontline social workers can be widely invited to participate. (Edited by: Chen Ching-fang)1150501
Choose to stand with facts. Every sponsorship you provide is a force to protect press freedom.
Download the CNA 'First-hand News' APP to instantly grasp the latest news.
The text, pictures, and audio/video on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, publicly transmitted, or utilized without authorization.