The Travesty of Deferring the Social Work Profession Bill - A Plea to the Prime Minister of Malaysia

Opinions

We have been waiting for 14 long years for this Bill to be tabled. Not one year, or five or even 10 years, but 14 years.

24 Oct 2024 10:36am

We heard on Oct 21, from the Minister of the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry, that the Social Work Profession Bill will not be tabled.

This deferment of the Social Work Profession Bill is a major travesty.

We have been waiting for 14 long years for this Bill to be tabled. Not one year, or five or even 10 years, but 14 years.

Our child protection services are weak and our welfare services lack professionalism. It is critical that we pass this Bill ASAP (as soon as to enable our social services to be upgraded to a professional level, one that is being looked after and run by trained social workers. We have enough, continuous examples of failure in our child protection services. Besides child protection work, social workers play a crucial role in addressing issues faced by older persons, people with disabilities, youth problems, and minority and marginalised communities.

Both Unicef and MASW (Malaysian Association of Social Workers) have advocated strongly for the urgent tabling of the Social Work Profession Bill. Robert Gass, Unicef Representative in Malaysia said in 2023 that:

“Social workers hold the edges of society together. Social workers protect and prevent children and their families from experiencing violence, promote social justice, reduce the effects of discrimination, address inequality, and contribute to the eradication of poverty. Social workers help ensure that no one is left behind.”

We appear able to draft and pass other bills with urgency but not a bill that is crucial to the wellbeing of the children of this nation that we love.

We are currently the backward Asean nation in terms of legislation for many areas like social work, disability rights and child rights.

Prime Minister, you may not be aware that our neighbours have passed legislation related to social work a long, long time ago. A few examples:

In 1965 the Philippines passed "An Act to Regulate the Practice of Social Work and the Operation of Social Work Agencies in the Philippines and for Other Purposes".
In 2013 Thailand enacted the “Social Work Profession Act” to professionalise the social work profession.
In 2019 the Republic of Indonesia passed the “Law of Social Workers”.
Singapore regulates social work via the 2009 “Accreditation System for Social Workers and Social Service Practitioners” jointly managed by the Ministry of Social and Family Development, National Council of Social Service, and Singapore Association of Social Workers to ensure professional accreditation and standards in social work.

We appeal to you to correct this failure and ensure that a meaningful Social Work Profession Bill is passed ASAP, even if it requires a special sitting of parliament.

All our advocacy to improve social services for our children seem to have been ignored. We look to you to act – not just as a prime minister but also as a father and grandfather.

Signatories

1. Dato' Dr Amar-Singh HSS, Consultant Paediatrician, Child-Disability Activist.

2. Amy Bala, Social Worker, Malaysian Association of Social Workers.

3. Datin PH Wong, Childline Foundation & Co-Secretariat Child Rights Coalition Malaysia.

4. Datuk Hartini Zainudin, Yayasan Chow Kit, Voice of the Children.

5. Sharmila Sekaran, Voice of the Children.

6. Jeannie Low, Play Unlimited.

7. Yuenwah San, disability rights advocate, The OKU Rights Matter Project.

8. Wong Hui Min, President, National Early Childhood Intervention Council.

9. Yap Sook Yee, Advocate for Children with Disabilities, Persatuan WeCareJourney.

10. Women's Centre for Change, Penang (WCC).

11. Ng Lai-Thin, Project Lead, National Early Childhood Intervention Council.