GYLA supports social workers strike as well as the initiation of substantial l reforms ensuring worthy working conditions

Social work, which involves identifying the individual needs of target groups and delivering social support programs and services, is crucial while implementing the effective state social policy. The unfortunate actuality is that the social protection has not been subjected to fundamental reforms, therefore, the quality and efficiency of the Social Service Agency work is a long-term problem that still remains.

Major problems social workers are left with:

- The number of Social Workers – Social Service Centers have insufficient number of personnel, respectively, social workers are unable to effectively perform their activity;

- Working environment and conditions – the absence of relevant infrastructure in Social Service Centers leave social workers in improper working conditions. The fact that there are no rooms for interviewing individual beneficiaries is particularly problematic, which in turn violates individuals` personal information and confidentiality. This environment is degrading for both social workers and beneficiaries.

- Unpaid transportation – the state or other types of budget do not refund field visits, therefore, social workers spend their own finances on transportation. 

- Physical safety – frequently, social workers face physical hazard on the basis of their job specificity. Although Social Service Centers are the public institutions, no safety mechanisms are found.

The systematic problems in social work and disquieting working conditions negatively affect not only the social rights of social workers, but also represents the important obstacle for vulnerable groups in the country, more precisely, this prevents the qualitative and rapid use of social services.

On the ground of above noted, GYLA joins the social workers` demands and calls on the Ministry of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from the Occupied Territories, Labor, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia:

- To create a working group at the basis of the Ministry and set up it with the representatives of the Ministry together with practicing social workers, professional community, field experts and organizations, involved in the process of elaboration of the ,,Law of Georgia on Social Work’’;

- Decision - makers should conceptualize profession mandate of social work, social workers’ role and responsibility in a child welfare system, also, working tools, methods and services should be developed and improved;

- To provide the functioning professional enhancement/support and supervisory mechanisms for those social workers involved in guardianship and parental custody;

- To organize a coordination mechanism in the process of identifying, responding and monitoring the child abuse cases by engaging those institutions, which work with children;

- To increase the number of social workers along with defining their work-load and amending working environment and conditions.

The photo credits to Radio Liberty