Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun Yuk-han argued on Wednesday that the amended Social Workers Registration Ordinance would provide a “better” and “more secure foundation” for the operation of the Social Workers Registration Board, dismissing concerns that it would discourage people from joining the profession.
The board, which oversees 27,000 people in the industry, has also received the power to quickly deregister those convicted of certain crimes and permanently disqualify anyone involved in serious offences such as endangering national security.
The amendments were submitted to the legislature for scrutiny after Sun earlier accused the board of failing to stop national security offenders from becoming registered professionals.
Critics previously expressed concerns that the overhaul would have a huge impact on the industry in the long run, such as undermining its professional autonomy, the right to speak on social issues and the sector’s morale.
The passage of the amendments follows a wave of resignations from seven of the board’s eight elected members, including former chairman Ng Yut-ming, with the move seen as an act of protest.
