KUALA LUMPUR: The long-awaited Social Work Profession Bill 2026, aimed at professionalising and regulating social workers in the country, was passed by the Dewan Rakyat today.
The Bill’s passage comes more than a decade after the government first mooted the idea of a legislative framework for the profession.
In tabling the Bill for its second and third readings today, Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri said that while many elements might not yet be included in the legislation, it did not mean the door to future improvements was closed.
“There is room for ongoing improvement that can be made by the (Social Work Profession) Council, whose composition will be based on inclusiveness and those with expertise,” Nancy said.
“We can end a decade of waiting today. I believe no Bill is perfect, and I believe a good Bill is one that can be improved, rather than waiting for a perfect Bill which will never arrive.
“This is not a day about passing the Bill. It is about telling every social worker that their profession is recognised, and telling those who require the services of social workers that their plight is not taken for granted.”
Nancy said Malaysia faced a severe shortage of social workers, with the current ratio standing at one social worker for every 8,576 residents. This compares with 1:490 in the US, 1:1,040 in Australia, 1:3,025 in the United Kingdom, and 1:3,448 in Singapore.
She added that the number of cases handled by the Social Welfare Department had risen over the past five years, increasing from 663,628 in 2020 to 1,013,466 in 2025, reflecting the increasingly complex social challenges facing the population.
Earlier, 23 members of parliament debated the proposed legislation.
While the majority of elected representatives expressed full or conditional support, many of the concerns raised echoed those voiced by stakeholders in the lead-up to the Bill’s tabling.
Among the key issues raised by MPs was the question of “double standards”, as the law only mandates the registration of social workers in the private sector.
The debate also focused on ambiguity and a lack of clarity in Clause 2, which does not clearly distinguish specialised, professional social work from general humanitarian aid and community volunteerism.
Lim Lip Eng (PH-Kepong) said the Bill contained accountability gaps, weaknesses in the disciplinary process, and several drafting errors that could create complications, particularly in enforcement.
“Clause 19(8) allows social workers from the public sector to provide social work in their official capacity without a practising certificate, while the code of ethics of the (Malaysian Social Work Profession) Council only covers certified practitioners.
“This means social workers in the public sector are not bound by the registration system and professional code of ethics under the law.”
He argued that professional standards should not differ based on an employer, citing New Zealand, where all practising social workers must be registered and hold valid practising certificates, except during emergencies.
Lim also noted that the Bill was silent on the workings of the disciplinary committee under the Social Work Profession Council. While provisions allow parties the right to representation, he said it remained vague on matters such as the admission of evidence, legal representation and the calling of witnesses.
Lim further highlighted that Clause 35(3) allowed those found guilty to be jailed for up to two years.
“Any offence that carries a jail term must be stated in the main Act and debated in Parliament.
“This Bill must be improved before it is passed,” he said, referring to the Bill before the vote.
His views were echoed by Isnaraissah Munirah Majilis (Warisan-Kota Belud), who questioned the differing treatment of the public and private sectors.
“The government needs to explain why only social workers in the private sector must be registered and not those in the public sector,” she said, adding that the legislation must be practical rather than purely academic.
Others who raised concerns included Datuk Siti Zailah Mohd Yusoff (PN-Rantau Panjang), who expressed hope that the Bill would protect rather than burden social workers.
“Social workers perform many duties and provide assistance to people from all walks of life. It is hoped this new law will not drive them away from the profession. We need to give them confidence and not punish them,” she said.
Siti Zailah also asked the government to explain why state employees, especially those from the Social Welfare Department, were exempted from registration under the proposed legislation.
While Yeo Bee Yin (PH-Puchong) supported the Bill, she hoped the government would introduce a roadmap to ensure those in the public sector eventually move towards registration under the proposed law.
“This Bill is critical and will help overcome the shortage of ‘pelindung’ [protectors] in Malaysia,” she said, referring to personnel in the Social Welfare Department.
Yeo noted that while Clause 3 states that the chairman and deputy chairman of the Malaysian Social Work Profession Council will be the secretary-general of the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry and the director-general of Social Welfare respectively, a voting mechanism should eventually be introduced to ensure the council becomes an independent body similar to the Bar Council.
Abdul Latiff Abdul Rahman (PN-Kuala Krai) said he hoped the council would not become a “branch” of the ministry.
“Under this proposed law, the council is more like a government body, unlike a professional body such as the Bar Council, whose office bearers are elected,” he said.
“We also need members of academia to be part of the council because if disciplinary hearings [against social workers] are conducted solely by government representatives, it may appear lopsided.”
Abdul Latiff also proposed that the council operate independently rather than relying on government funding, as currently provided for under the Bill.
Replying to the points raised, Nancy said registration under the Act is mandatory for all individuals in the private sector practising social work, including those with non-governmental organisations, community-based organisations, corporate entities and private practices.
She said registration is also compulsory for public sector social workers who practise social work outside their official government duties. However, applications to undertake such external work require approval from their respective department heads.
“There is no restriction on other qualified public servants registering under this Act,” she said.
“This approach has been established following careful evaluation. The decision is driven by pragmatic considerations, taking into account the current state of the profession in Malaysia.”
“Government social workers operate within a system that already provides a certain level of supervision. However, the private sector currently lacks such foundational structures or support, and operates without a legislative framework, governance, regulation or institutional backing,” she said.
She added that, to date, there is no data on social workers in the private sector, although such information is readily available within their respective ministries.
