Social Workers Registration Board deviates from regulatory duties, says labour chief

The labour chief criticized the Social Workers Registration Board for deviating from regulatory duties as it failed to ban national security convicts from becoming social workers.

This came after the chairman of the Board Ng Yut-ming said that any applicant who violates the offenses listed in the Social Workers Registration Ordinance could still be registered as a social worker under the unanimous agreement of all Board members.

Ng said that regardless of whether the offenses involved national security, they will be handled under the same principles, as the procedures have been clear and effective enough in handling registration regarding offenders of serious offenses.

He also said he would invite Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun Yuk-han for a meeting to clarify the arrangement.

However, Sun emphasized Monday that he was well aware of what was going on in the Board ?and that there was no misunderstanding as he criticized the Board.

He said the Board disregarded the public interest and undermined the credibility and professionalism of social workers. 

He further noted that his concerns were not related to politics and that it is necessary to improve the governance of the Registration Board. 

He hoped the Board would deal with issues concerning the registration of social workers as well as their disciplinary matters in a manner commensurate with the need to ensure the public interest.