Cabinet approves draft of Youth Basic Law

Taipei, May 1 (CNA) The Executive Yuan on Thursday approved a draft bill aimed at establishing a foundation in Taiwan to facilitate youth development and encourage greater youth participation in public affairs.

The draft of the "Youth Basic Law" (青年基本法), pending legislative approval, seeks to provide a general legal framework and establish fundamental principles for the public sector at both central and local-levels to take a "youth perspective" into account and "facilitate youth development."

In particular, the bill mandates central and local governments establish mechanisms for the participation of young people aged 18 to 35 when developing various policies, regulations and programs.

Under the bill, the central government is required to launch a "youth policy white paper" and update it every four years based on national development goals and societal needs.

Chen I-tsung (諶亦聰), deputy head of the Youth Development Administration under the Ministry of Education, told a Cabinet press briefing on Thursday that the first white paper will be drafted as soon as February 2026.

In addition, the Executive Yuan will establish a board convened by the premier and tasked with formulating youth policy and coordinating efforts to implement youth-related measures, the bill said.

Discussing the draft bill on Thursday, Minister without Portfolio Shih Che (史哲) said the bill, which has drawn from similar legislation in other countries, is about "declaring [our] fundamental values."