This article describes how UNICEF Malaysia welcomes the passage of the Social Work Profession Bill 2026 in the Dewan Rakyat (House of Representatives) on 14 July as a significant milestone towards strengthening and professionalizing social work in Malaysia.
By formally recognizing social work as a profession, the Bill marks important progress toward the recommendation of the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) to strengthen social workers and provides a foundation for stronger professional standards, accountability and quality of support for children and families at risk.