DAP leader: Social work profession bill must be tabled soon

The Women, Family and Community Development Ministry must table the social work profession bill as soon as possible to empower social workers in preventing child abuse and violence against children, said DAP Women vice-chairperson Kasthuri Patto.

In a statement today, she pointed out that the Social Welfare Department is understaffed and has been working hard to fulfil the needs, wants and demands of their jobs - including fieldwork.

When the bill is passed by the Dewan Rakyat and becomes law, she said social workers can assist officers from the Social Welfare Department by monitoring, inspecting and observing errant childcare centres, be it those that are registered or operating without approval from the department.

“Regular and unannounced spot checks have proven to be key in ensuring that these centres adhere and keep to the highest standards when a child is left in their care and custody,” Kasthuri (above) said.

She also called for the Social Welfare Department website to be updated regularly to reflect the number of registered childcare centres.

This was after she allegedly found a significant discrepancy in the number of registered daycare centres on the website.

“A quick check on the website will show that the number of daycares or childcare centres operating is far less than if you searched for them on Google.

“For example, on the Social Welfare Department website, there is only one registered daycare centre under the category of ‘rumah’ or house in the Perai Southern District or Seberang Perai Selatan (SPS) in Penang.

“But on page one of Google search alone, you will find 11 childcare centres - none on the social welfare website.

“A random check on the Malaysia Daycare Services Portal also showed only one daycare centre when you search for SPS, matching the same one on the Social Welfare Department website,” she said.

Adopt and adapt

This came after a two-month-old baby Qaseh Aulia Faizul died at a childcare centre in Kota Damansara, Selangor.

According to the victim’s father Faizul Ali Adam, the Social Welfare Department informed him that the childcare centre had no operating licence.

In response, Kasthuri, who is also DAP international affairs deputy secretary, urged the government to adopt and adapt the best practices in accordance with international standards.

“In the United Kingdom, the Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills (Ofsted) is responsible for inspecting services providing education and skills for learners of all ages.

“They inspect, among others, childcare centres, regulate a range of early years and children’s social care services, making sure they’re suitable for children and potentially vulnerable young people, and reporting and publishing reports of findings so they can be used to improve the overall quality of education and training and also to inform policymakers about the effectiveness of these services.

“Ofsted reports directly to Parliament, parents, carers and commissioners. While no system nor structure is perfect, Ofsted speaks volumes on its commitment centred around the best interest of the child and reflects how serious the government is in ensuring that every child is protected under the law,” said Kasthuri.

However, she stressed that change cannot be done if there is no political will, saying she dreads to think of the outcome involving unregistered daycare centres that are operating under the radar.

“It is not all upon the government alone. The public has a role to play too.

“Query childcare facilities, dodgy or not, and make a report to the Social Welfare Department and police if there is a suspicion of abuse or neglect,” she said. - Mkini