Law No. 5/2019 “Professional Qualification System for Social Workers” was published in the “Macau Special Administrative Region Gazette” on April 1, 2019, and the law came into force one year after its publication (ie, effective on April 2, 2020).

The legislative work for the construction of the social work professional system was initiated in 2009. During the period, two public consultations were conducted, which have been concerned by the public and made many valuable opinions. The current legal text is the result of continuous discussions in the society and is an important milestone in the development of social work.

The purpose of the "Social Qualification System for Social Workers" is to ensure the professional qualifications of social tools, to continuously improve the professional competence and service quality of social workers, to promote the development of social work and to protect the rights and interests of service users.

After the law comes into force, those engaged in social work must obtain professional qualifications and register for practice. Although public officials are currently subject to the restrictions of the Public Service Law on the principle of full-time and non-part-time, they cannot be registered, but they can be recognized as professional qualifications in accordance with the law. The public social workers whose qualifications are recognized are professionally and professionally qualified. There is no difference between registrants.

The Social Workers' Professional Committee (hereinafter referred to as the "Social Society") established with the "Professional Qualification System for Social Workers" shall, in accordance with the same law, be effective immediately after the publication of the law, and the organization and operation of the Social Welfare Association shall be It is regulated by independent administrative regulations. In this regard, the Social Work Bureau has completed the draft administrative regulations and has filed a petition to initiate the relevant legislative procedures. The Social Welfare Association is a collegiate organ of the public administration. Its functions are mainly to carry out work involving social work professions, including the establishment of professional qualification accreditation criteria, accreditation of professional qualification accreditation applications, co-ordination examinations and social work continuing education activities, and pre-examination of disciplinary procedures. Wait. To tie in with the announcement and entry into force of the law, the Social Welfare Bureau is actively following up on the legislation and preparation of the Social Welfare Association. Later, it will also carry out work on legal promotion and continue to promote the development of social work.