KUCHING: The Sarawak Women for Women Society (SWWS) has called on the government to strengthen the proposed Social Work Profession Bill, warning that excluding government social workers from the legislation would undermine efforts to protect children from abuse.
SWWS President, Dr Angie Garet, said recent reports of child sexual abuse and bullying underscored the urgent need for prevention and professional intervention.
“Protecting and healing our children from abuse is crucial,” she stressed, adding that social workers at the Department of Social Welfare (JKM) were key frontline responders and must not be left out of the bill.
Under the Child Act 2001, JKM child protection officers are the only professionals mandated to assess what is in the best interests of abused children and make recommendations to the courts.
Their work includes ensuring a child’s safety, arranging alternative care where needed and monitoring the standards of residential homes run by voluntary, private or faith-based organisations.
They are also empowered to handle cases where minors are accused of abusing other children, addressing root causes and preventing recurrence.
JKM officers issue emergency protection orders for women facing domestic violence and carry out complex, life-determining tasks that require a deep understanding of children’s needs, the dynamics of abuse and family rights.
Yet, these officers are reportedly excluded from the forthcoming Social Work Profession Bill, a move SWWS describes as both “surprising and worrying”.
Dr Garet highlighted that Malaysia lagged behind regional neighbours in the ratio of social workers to population and in requiring professional accreditation.
“Ensuring only professionally trained social workers are employed in such life-determining tasks is essential,” she said.
The bill was initially designed to raise professional standards across the sector.
Earlier drafts dating back to 2011 included government social workers, with transition mechanisms to help those in service upgrade their qualifications within generous timeframes.
“It is illogical for those who monitor others’ performance not to be professionally accountable themselves,” Dr Garet said.
She warned that enacting a partial bill now could mean years before the key government sector was covered; in the meantime, the Public Services Department (JPA) would not be mandated to recruit professionally trained social workers despite seven local universities graduating around 400 social work students annually.
“For the sake of our abused, vulnerable children, let’s ensure those intervening to protect them meet international professional standards and that JKM is given the resources it needs and deserves to develop this crucial service,” she said.
