Proposed Social Workers Act discourages spirit of volunteerism

September 1, 2014

SIBU: Youth Development Assistant Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah agrees with the state government’s stand in not adopting the proposed Social Workers Act 2012.

He too believed the proposed Act would be counterproductive to the spirit of volunteerism.

“I fully support the state government in not adopting the Social Workers’ Act.

Abdul Karim was asked if the Act could cause youths to shun taking up community work.

“One of the requirements under the Act – that social workers must have a degree will definitely be a stumbling block to sincere committed workers who are not graduates.

“I agree with YB CM (Tan Sri Datuk Amar Adenan Satem) that the Act will curtail ‘volunteerism’ in our society.

“This is an important aspect of social work and many social workers are doing it on a voluntary basis so the new condition set by the Act will definitely discourage this good spirit,” Abdul Karim, who is Asajaya assemblyman told The Borneo Post.

The Social Workers bill is expected to be tabled during the next Parliamentary session.

Adenan had said the proposed Social Workers Act 2012, aimed at improving the quality of social work, would not be adopted by the state if the bill is passed in Parliament.

He said the state government refused to adopt the Act which required social workers to have the necessary academic qualifications as this “could kill the spirit of volunteerism” in the state.