Government social workers will get more benefits following the recent signing of the implementing rules and regulations of Republic Act 9433, otherwise known as an Act providing for a Magna Carta for Public Social Workers.
Social Welfare and Development Secretary Esperanza Cabral, who led the signing Thursday at the DSWD central office in Quezon City, said, “The Magna Carta seeks to improve the social and economic well-being of public social workers, as well as their working conditions and terms of employment to enable them to function better in delivering social services and programs.”
The law covers all registered social workers in government service whether holding permanent, casual or contractual position.
“With the signing of the implementing rules and regulations of the Magna Carta, our public social workers would feel rewarded for their hard work. We also hope that this improvement shall encourage more people to follow the calling of social work,” Cabral said.
Cabral said the DSWD will head the Social Work Management and Consultative Council which shall oversee the implementation of the law.
Some of the benefits provided to social workers under the Magna Carta are: provision of additional allowances such as hazard, transportation/subsistence, housing and living quarters, longevity, clothing and “on-call” allowances; entitlement to leave benefits; compensation from injuries; protection from reassignment, except in the interest of public service; security of tenure; freedom from coercion; and provision of human resource development and management trainings.