Rights of social work practitioners in Vietnam under Decree 110/2024

Rights of social work practitioners in Vietnam under Decree 110/2024 (Image from internet)

On August 30, 2024, the Government of Vietnam issued Decree 110/2024/ND-CP on Social Work, which includes regulations on the rights and obligations of social work practitioners from October 15, 2024.

Rights of social work practitioners in Vietnam under Decree 110/2024

To be specific, social work practitioners will enjoy the rights specified from Article 21 to Article 25 of Decree 110/2024/ND-CP. To be specific:

(1) Right to Practice Social Work in Vietnam

- Practice social work according to the practice registration certificate.

- Decide on prevention, intervention, therapy, protection, care, rehabilitation, support for development, counseling, assistance, and social work methods according to the social work practice registration certificate.

- Enter into agreements to provide social work services with organizations or individuals in need in accordance with the law.

- Independent social work practitioners are entitled to remuneration as per the agreement. Remuneration is agreed upon in a signed agreement with the client, based on accurate calculations of factors such as the content and nature of the social work service; the time and effort the practitioner puts into delivering the service; the experience and reputation of the practitioner; and reasonable expenses for travel, accommodation, and other costs associated with delivering the social work service.

In case the social work practitioner works at facilities providing social work services, they are entitled to salary policies, allowances, remunerations, bonuses, and additional income (if any) as per the law.

- Allowed to practice at one or multiple facilities providing social work services or to practice independently.

- Allowed to join social - professional organizations on social work.

(2) Right to Refuse to Provide Social Work Services in Vietnam

Social work practitioners have the right to refuse to provide social work services in the following cases:

- The case exceeds the scope of the social work practice registration certificate or is contrary to the social work practice registration certificate.

- Provision of social work services is contrary to the law or professional ethics of social work.

- The client or their relatives have acts that infringe on the body, health, life, honor, or dignity of the social work practitioner.

- Other cases as prescribed by law.

(3) Right to Enhance Professional Social Work Competency in Vietnam

- Entitled to training, retraining to develop professional competencies, and updating social work knowledge appropriate to the scope of practice.

- Entitled to participate in professional training courses, exchange information on professional matters, and legal knowledge on social work.

(4) Right to Ensure Safety While Practicing Social Work in Vietnam

- Entitled to protection of health, life, honor, and body.

- In case of threats to life, health, honor, or dignity by others, the social work practitioner is permitted to temporarily leave the workplace and the social work service facility; the local authorities where the incident occurs are to take measures to protect the social work practitioner.

(5) Right to Implement Social Work Intervention Measures in Vietnam

Chair or cooperate with police agencies or other relevant agencies to use professional social work measures to prevent, intervene, provide therapy, protect, care, rehabilitate, support development, counsel, assist, and protect the lawful rights and interests of persons who are victims of violence, abuse, maltreatment causing physical or psychological harm, and other subjects as prescribed by law.

More details can be found in Decree 110/2024/ND-CP which comes into force in Vietnam from October 15, 2024.

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