KUALA LUMPUR: The proposed law to regulate the social work profession which has been in the works since 2010 has finally reached the Dewan Rakyat.
The Social Work Profession Bill 2026 was tabled for the first reading in the Dewan Rakyat on Monday (July 13) by Women, Family and Community Development Ministry Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri.
The Bill is scheduled for the second and third readings in the current meeting of the Dewan Rakyat.
The Bill provides for the establishment of the Malaysian Social Work Profession Council which will report to the Women, Family and Community Development Minister.
The Council will be chaired by the ministry’s secretary-general with the social welfare department’s director-general serving as deputy chairman.
According to Section 19 of the Bill, social workers are required to obtain a practising certificate, unless they are civil servants performing social work as part of their official duties.
An applicant must be a Malaysian citizen, holds a bachelor’s degree in social work or qualifications related to the profession, be registered as a social worker in a foreign country recognised by the designated council and has the required work experience.
The practising certificate will be valid for two years and must be renewed before it expires.
The Council will oversee the approvals applications for practitioners, set professional and ethical standards, among others.
Its secretary will also serve as a Registrar, whose main responsibilities include issuing practising certificates to qualified social workers and temporary practising certificates for eligible foreign social workers.
Disciplinary action can be initiated against a practitioner or trainee if they are found to have committed professional misconduct or have been found to have breached the regulations under the Act. As such an investigation committee and disciplinary committee will also be established.
Under Section 26(1), the Council may suspend the practising certificate, temporary practising certificate or interim certificate of a practitioner pending the completion of an investigation. Therefore, a social worker will not be able to practise during the period of suspension. Those who breach this regulation, can be liable to a fine of up to RM10,000 or a prison term of up to one year or both.
The Bill makes it an offence for anyone who is not a registered social work practitioner or trainee to provide social work services, falsely claim to be a social worker, or obtain registration through fraud.
Employers who knowingly hire unregistered individuals to practise as social workers may also face criminal penalties.
The Bill further requires practitioners and council members to keep client and official information confidential, with breaches punishable by fines or imprisonment.
Individuals who unlawfully practise as social workers, falsely claim to be registered, or obtain registration through fraud may be fined up to RM20,000, imprisoned for up to two years, or both. Employers who hire unregistered individuals to practise may face fines of up to RM50,000, imprisonment for up to three years, or both, while breaches of confidentiality carry the same maximum penalty of RM50,000 or three years' imprisonment, or both.
