Social Workers Act approved by govt

Proposed Social Workers Act gets the Govt's nod

KUALA LUMPUR: The proposed Social Workers Act, aimed at regulating and ensuring the quality of social care, has been approved by the Government.

Women, Family and Community Develop­ment Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil said the Cabinet had also approved the ministry's proposal to establish the national social work competency standards.

"Social problems such as child abuse, baby dumping and the increase in the number of beggars are getting more complex.

"Such problems require intervention from social workers who are well-trained, competent, experienced and professional," she told reporters at her ministry here yesterday.

Shahrizat said the ministry would finalise the draft of the Act and also the national social work competency standards.

"The national social work competency will be based on international standards. We are now working on it with an international consultant from Australia."

She said the ministry would also discuss with the Higher Education Ministry to ensure the curriculum in social work degrees offered by seven local universities comply with the competency standards.

Source: The Star