PETALING JAYA: Postponing the tabling of the Social Work Profession Bill has been called a travesty by NGOs and activists.
In an open letter to the Prime Minister, the group of NGOs and activists said the Bill was vital to enhance the nation's weak child protection services and social welfare services.
The group urged the government to pass the Bill as soon as possible to safeguard the welfare of the vulnerable groups in our society.
On Monday (Oct 21), Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri had said that the tabling of the Social Work Profession Bill in Dewan Rakyat this year had run into another delay again and was expected to be tabled in Dewan Rakyat next year.
The open letter is displayed below in full.
The Travesty of Deferring the Social Work Profession Bill - A Plea to the Prime Minister of Malaysia
YAB Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim,
Prime Minister of Malaysia
We heard yesterday (21 October 2024), 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 1 year, or 5 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 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 well-being 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.
12. Tina Yap Li Yan, Social Worker and PhD (Social Work) student, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.
13. Vaneezha Muniandi, Executive Director, Malaysian Association of Social Workers (MASW).
14. Yayasan Chow Kit.
15. Sarawak Women for Women Society.
16. Rizlan bin Ghazali, Advocate & Solicitor, Shah Alam.
17. Prof. Dr Mary Marret and Dr Irene Cheah, Child Protection Subcommittee, Malaysian Paediatric Association.
18. Asha Singh, Social Worker.
19. PurpleLily Social Association Kuching.
20. Family Frontiers.
21. Persatuan Untuk Anak Kita (PUAK).
22. Women's Aid Organisation.
23. Pusat Jagaan Kanak Kanak Vivekananda, Rembau NS.
24. CSEC Network Malaysia.
25. Ju-Lynn Quek, Country Director, OUR Rescue Malaysia.
26. Katrina Mariswamy, Regional Director of Survivor Care Asia, OUR Rescue.
27. Sabah Women's Action-Resource Group (SAWO).
28. Dr Ling How Kee, Social Work Educator, Sarawak.
29. Hii King Kai, Methodist Pilley Institute, Sibu.
30. Aisha Zanariah Abdullah, Montessori Association Malaysia.
