Israeli Legislation.com
LawHealthWelfare & Social Security

Social Workers Law, 5756-1996

חוק העובדים הסוציאליים, תשנ"ו-1996

Published: 1996-03-08Consolidated Hebrew text as of 2025-04-06 · Last amended 2025-04-03✓ Amendment status checked against the Knesset legislation record on 2026-09-28
Premium
Unofficial English translation — for reference only. It may contain errors or omissions and cannot be relied on as a legal text. Only the Hebrew text published in Reshumot is legally binding.More

This English text was translated from the official Hebrew using a range of translation tools, and it undergoes ongoing checks and updates. It is not a certified translation.

Despite these checks, it may contain errors, omissions, or imprecise renderings of legal terminology and cross-references, and it may not yet reflect the latest amendments. It cannot be relied upon as a legal text.

The Hebrew text as published in Reshumot (ספר החוקים) and on the Knesset website is the sole authoritative and legally binding version. In any discrepancy, the Hebrew text prevails.

This translation is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For use in legal proceedings, request a certified Expert Legal Opinion.

Chapter VIII: Penalties and Miscellaneous

Penalties§

57.
(a)A person who does any of the following is liable to one year's imprisonment or a fine as referred to in section 61(a)(2) of the Penal Law, 5737-1977:
(1)engages in social work in contravention of the provisions of section 3;
(2)contravenes the provisions of sections 4 or 5;
(3)discloses information in contravention of the provisions of section 8;
(4)discloses information in contravention of the provisions of section 24.
(b)A person who was required to provide information or a document pursuant to section 23 and refused to provide them is liable to six months' imprisonment.

Ancillary Powers§

58.
(a)The Medical Committee or the Disciplinary Committee may, if necessary for the performance of their functions —
(1)summon a person to appear before them in order to testify or to produce a thing;
(2)require a witness to testify under oath or affirmation in accordance with the provisions applicable in a court;
(3)request the court within whose jurisdiction the Committee sits to issue an order pursuant to section 13 of the Evidence Ordinance [New Version], 5731-1971, for the purpose of taking evidence;
(4)award travelling and accommodation expenses and compensation for loss of earnings to witnesses summoned under this section, as for a witness summoned to testify in court.
(b)Where a committee has required a person to testify or to produce a thing as referred to in subsection (a) and that person has refused to do so without justification satisfactory to the committee, the court within whose jurisdiction the committee sits may, on the application of the Chairperson of the committee, compel compliance with the committee's directions by way of imprisonment not exceeding one month or the imposition of a fine not exceeding the amount referred to in section 40(2) of the Penal Law, 5737-1977.
(c)In this section, "court" — in relation to a Medical Committee, means an administrative affairs court, and in relation to a Disciplinary Committee, means a District Court.

Rules of Procedure§

59.

The Minister of Justice, in consultation with the Minister, may prescribe rules of procedure in relation to section 58.

Cessation of Office§

60.
(a)The resignation of a member of the Council or of a member of a committee of the Council, of a member of the Registration Committee, or of a member of a Medical Committee shall be submitted in writing to the Minister and shall take effect 15 days after its delivery.
(b)The Minister may remove from office a member of the Council or a member of a committee as referred to in subsection (a) if —
(1)the member is permanently incapacitated, in the Minister's opinion, from performing the member's functions;
(2)the member has been convicted of an offence involving moral turpitude;
(3)the member has been declared bankrupt or a receiver has been appointed over the member's assets by the court;
(4)the member has permanently left the country;
(5)the member has been continuously and without reasonable cause absent from three consecutive meetings of the Council or of a committee as aforesaid, and after having been given an opportunity to be heard.
(c)A person who is employed in or holds any position in a particular ministry or body and who is a member of the Council or of a committee as referred to in subsection (a) as a representative of that ministry or body, and who has ceased to be employed in that ministry or body or to hold that position — the Minister may remove that person from office as a member of the Council or as a member of a committee as aforesaid and appoint another representative of that ministry or body in the person's place, as the case may be.

Implementation and Regulations§

61.
(a)The Minister is responsible for the implementation of this Law and may make Regulations in all matters relating to its implementation.
(b)The Minister, with the consent of the Minister of Finance and with the approval of the Labour and Welfare Committee of the Knesset, may prescribe fees for registration or for inspection of the Register.

Amendment of Compulsory Education Law – No. 22§

62.

In the Compulsory Education Law, 5709-1949, in section 4 –

(1)in subsection (b)(3), instead of "a person qualified for social work, as defined in the Welfare Services Law, 5718-1958" there shall come "a social worker as defined in the Social Workers Law, 5756-1996";
(2)(Repealed)

Amendment of Welfare Services Law – No. 5§

63.

In the Welfare Services Law, 5718-1958 –

(1)in section 1 –
(a)instead of the definition "welfare officer" there shall come:

""welfare officer" – a social worker whom the Minister of Labour and Welfare has appointed as a welfare officer for the purposes of this Law;";

(b)instead of the definition "qualified for social work" there shall come:

""social worker" – as defined in the Social Workers Law, 5756-1996";

(2)in section 2(e), instead of "qualified for social work" there shall come "social worker".

Amendment of Welfare Law (Treatment of Persons with Intellectual Disabilities) – No. 3§

64.

In the Welfare Law (Treatment of Persons with Intellectual Disabilities), 5729-1969, in section 1, instead of the definition "welfare officer" there shall come:

""welfare officer" – a social worker as defined in the Social Workers Law, 5756-1996, who has been appointed as a welfare officer pursuant to the provisions of section 21(c)".

Amendment of Evidence Ordinance – No. 12§

65.

In the Evidence Ordinance [New Version], 5731-1971, after section 50 there shall come:

"Testimony of a social worker

50a. (a) A social worker as defined in the Social Workers Law, 5756-1996, is not obliged to produce evidence concerning a matter relating to a person who required his services and which came to him in the course of his occupation as a social worker and is of the kind that, by its nature, is communicated to a social worker generally in confidence that it will be kept secret, unless the person has waived the privilege or the court has found that the need to disclose the evidence for the sake of doing justice outweighs the interest in not disclosing it.

(b)The provisions of subsection (a) shall apply also after the witness has ceased to be a social worker.
(c)Where a privilege is claimed under this section, the hearing shall take place in camera; if the court has decided to hear the testimony, it may hear it in camera."

Amendment of Special Education Law – No. 3§

66.

In the Special Education Law, 5748-1988, in section 6(a)(5), instead of "qualified for social work within the meaning of the Welfare Services Law, 5718-1958" there shall come "a social worker as defined in the Social Workers Law, 5756-1996".

Commencement§

67.

This Law shall come into force at the end of three months from its publication.

Need to cite this law in a foreign court?

Eli Shimony Israeli Attorneys-at-Law provides certified Expert Legal Opinions on Israeli law within 24–48 hours, accepted by courts worldwide.

Contact Us →
← 123→

Page 3 of 3

Read the entire law on one page — continuous text, no page breaks, plus PDF downloads.