The Executive Yuan on Thursday approved draft legal amendments that will raise the maximum fine for child care facility and preschool staff or owners found guilty of abusing children from NT$500,000 (US$17,809) to NT$600,000.
The amendments to the Early Childhood Education and Care Act and the Statute for Preschool Educators increase the punishment for owners of child care facilities or child care workers found guilty of inflicting corporal punishment, sexually harassing, bullying and inappropriately disciplining children.
According to the draft amendments, offenders can be fined between NT$60,000 and NT$600,000.
Under existing rules, those who inflict corporal punishment or sexually harass children at child care facilities and preschools will receive a minimum fine of NT$60,000 and a maximum fine of NT$500,000 and NT$300,000, respectively.
Under current rules, anyone who inappropriately disciplines a child can be fined NT$6,000-NT$30,000.
The proposed amendments also stipulate that offenders be suspended from work for one to four years or receive a lifetime ban from child care work, based on the severity of the case, according to the Ministry of Education.
In addition, under the new regulations, facilities that violate rules that impact the rights of children and parents face fines of NT$60,000-NT$300,000, an increase on the current NT$6,000-NT$30,000.
This includes excess enrollment, failure to meet student-teacher ratio and tuition refund requirements as well as employment of unlicensed care service providers.
An aggregate fine may also be imposed in accordance with the Administrative Penalty Act, according to the ministry.
The proposed amendments revise the current regulations which give offenders a fixed time period in which to make improvements before a fine is imposed, to simultaneously requiring improvements and issuing a fine.
The harsher punishments have been proposed as child abuse cases at care facilities have attracted increasing public attention in recent years, culminating in a drive last year that collected over 5,000 signatures on a government-funded public policy platform, demanding increased punishments for such violations.
The bill will be submitted to the Legislative Yuan for approval.
Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel