Hsinchu County magistrate candidate Hsu Hsin-ying has pledged to amend the law to safeguard the pay and working conditions of childcare workers — good news for frontline caregivers, but a new source of pressure on local government budgets.

• Kuomintang legislator Hsu Hsin-ying put forward three policy commitments at an event honouring childcare workers in Hsinchu County.
• The central proposal is to write "kinship childcare" into law, so that people with professional childminder qualifications can also receive government subsidies when caring for close relatives.
• The current system classifies "kinship care" and "professional childminding" separately, meaning qualified professionals who care for their own relatives end up ineligible for equivalent subsidies.
• She also called on the government to establish reasonable pay and long-service mechanisms, and to pair any push for flexible respite care with additional allowances, rest periods and relief staff, so as to avoid exploiting frontline workers.
• The third proposal is a "diversified employment incentive scheme for home-based childcare workers," creating pathways for those in the sector to change careers or stay on amid industry upheaval.

Outlook: These policies would require amendments to the Protection of Children and Youths Welfare and Rights Act to take effect, and remain campaign pledges for the time being.