KUALA LUMPUR – There is one Welfare Department social worker for every 8,576 Malaysians, a low ratio compared with other countries.
In a written parliamentary reply, Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Rina Mohd Harun said under the department’s Social Scheme, there are 3,814 personnel focused on social work.
“Based on a Malaysian Administrative Modernisation and Management Planning Unit study in 2019, the ratio of Welfare Department social workers to Malaysia’s population stood at 1:8,576.
“This gap is considered big if compared with countries such as the US (1:490), Australia (1:1,040) and the UK (1:3,025).”
Nevertheless, she said, the ministry is committed to increasing professionalism in the field of social work, and is considering tabling the Social Work Profession Bill.
To further increase community involvement in social work, the government has offered the relevant courses at eight public institutions of higher learning.
“The Women, Family, and Community Development Ministry has been appointed as the industry lead body by the Skills Development Department under the Human Resources Ministry, which also offers courses via the national occupational skills standard for social work,” said Rina.
She was replying to a question by Maria Chin Abdullah (Petaling Jaya-PH) on the ratio of social workers to Malaysians, and the policies implemented to plug any gaps. – The Vibes, September 30, 2021
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