The Legislative Council General held a general discussion yesterday and voted on the "Social Qualification Recognition and Registration System for Social Workers" Bill. It is suggested that social workers should adopt the "first accreditation and post-registration" model in the future, among which eleven members of the "Social Society" are responsible for accreditation. The first session was appointed by the government, but the second session did not state that it was elected by the people, causing Members to worry about the government's "going". The Director of the Department of Social and Cultural Affairs, Tan Junrong, who responded to the meeting, responded that the relevant commitments will not be "retreat". In the future, five non-members will be selected by registered social workers or delegates.

The bill proposes that the "Social Association" (Social Workers Professional Committee) consists of eleven members, including one chairman and five government advisers. Three of them must be in the social work category, and five other members of the civil society. Representatives of institutions of higher learning, professional bodies or social service agencies. In the second round of the public consultation summary report of the Social Work Bureau in August 1995, the revised bill task force agreed that the gradual and progressive elections were the method for the generation of non-governmental representatives in the second committee, but it was not stated in the current bill.

In introducing the bill, Tan Junrong stressed that the SAR government's attitude towards the "social association" remains unchanged. Since the second session of the "Social Society", five members from the private sector will be registered as social workers. After the entry into force of the bill, the "Social Society" will be put into operation immediately, and the social worker certification system will be promoted first. After the first batch of registered social workers, they will listen to their opinions and discuss the method for the establishment of five registered social workers. . In response to Members' questions, he said that there are currently 960 registered social workers in Macao. The social worker ratio of members of the "Social Society" is 1.14%, that of Hong Kong social workers is 22,000, and the "Social Society" has ten. The proportion of five social workers is only 0.07 percent. Emphasis on respecting social workers for “professional autonomy”. He also encourages social workers to move upwards, saying that the Social Work Bureau will strive for relevant areas and set up special jobs for social workers. The bill proposes that the “Social Society” is responsible for the implementation of social work majors, including qualification recognition, co-ordination examinations, continuing education, follow-up investigations and drafting of the Code of Ethics for Social Workers.

The person applying for accreditation must be a resident of the Macao SAR with a bachelor's degree in social work or above and pass the recognized examination. Approved persons can apply to the Social Welfare Bureau for registration. After registration, they can provide services to private entities with the title of social worker. Qualification is permanent and the period of validity of the registration is three years. Registration renewal is subject to a certain number of continuing education activities. Registered social workers are also subject to statutory obligations. If they suspect that they have breached their obligations, they will be investigated by the "Social Society" and will be advised by the Social Workers Commission to apply for written complaints, fines or compulsory suspension of registration in accordance with the specific circumstances of the violation. And require participation in intensive training of professional knowledge. The bill will also make recommendations on establishing and updating social work databases and setting up transitional arrangements.