Sharjah Ruler issues Law organising SSSD

The Law stipulates that the department shall enjoy the legal personality and legal capacity necessary to achieve its objectives and exercise its competencies, and shall be affiliated with the government of the Emirate.

The headquarters of the department shall be in the city of Sharjah, and it may, upon the approval of the Sharjah Executive Council, establish branches for it in the rest of the cities and regions of the Emirate.

According to the Law, the department aims to achieve the following:

1. Work to provide social welfare and decent living for individuals and families in society.
2. Contain, protect and support the most vulnerable groups in society and enable them to obtain their rights.
3. Upgrade and organise social work in the Emirate.
4. Enhance community cohesion between individuals, families and community institutions.
5. Enable community members to face social challenges, achieve social stability, and improve their conditions.

The Law also stipulates that, taking into account the relevant federal and local legislation, the department shall, in order to achieve its objectives, exercise the following competencies:

First: General Competences:

1. Draw up the general policies and develop strategic plans for the department in the Emirate and present them to the council to decide what it deems appropriate in this regard.
2. Propose the necessary legislation and regulations related to the work of the department and present them to the council to decide what it deems appropriate in this regard.
3. Seek help from experts, consultants, and entities of expertise in everything related to the work of the department. It is permissible to seek help from the concerned authorities to obtain administrative and technical support, and to cooperate with other parties in matters that fall within the goals and competencies of the department.
4. Sign contracts, agreements, memorandums of understanding and partnerships after their approval by the council.
5. Represent the Emirate in local, regional and international conferences, seminars and meetings related to social affairs in order to achieve social development and enhance the Emirate's position globally.
6. Any other competencies assigned to the department by the Sharjah Ruler or the council.

Second: Competences related to social care and protection:

1. Provide support, subsidies, and social assistance to those who are eligible in accordance with the approved rules, regulations, and procedures.
2. Provide day and home care services for the elderly and special groups, and the accompanying activities that suit their needs.
3. Supervise everything related to the individuals deprived of social care and take appropriate decisions regarding their care and secure their rights and legal representation.
4. Manage and supervise social care homes and shelters for people without social care in the department.
5. Implement judicial rulings issued regarding the regulation of family and parental relations that are assigned to the department and within its competence.

Third: Competences related to community cohesion and the development of social work:

1. Regulate the social sector in the Emirate, including activities, professions, services and sectors carried out by public and private for-profit and non-profit entities.
2. Organise and supervise the affairs of civil associations and institutions of public interest in the Emirate in coordination with the concerned authorities in accordance with the legislation in force.
3. Develop, qualify and license workers in the field of social services in the Emirate, in coordination with the concerned authorities.
4. Enhance social awareness among members of society by consolidating knowledge and social values and enabling them to integrate socially and acquire prevention and protection skills.
5. Organise and develop volunteer work in the Emirate and supervise it.
6. Carry out research and social studies, prepare and analyse statistics, reports and scientific publications in the social field that enhance community and creative outputs that have a positive impact on society, in coordination with the concerned authorities.
7. Research and study any problems related to social work and submit the necessary proposals and recommendations in this regard to the Sharjah Ruler or the council.

In accordance with the Law, the department shall have a chairperson appointed by an Emiri Decree, assisted by a sufficient number of employees, experts and consultants in accordance with its approved organisational structure. They shall have the necessary powers to manage the affairs of the department and take the necessary decisions to achieve its objectives. In particular, they shall have the following:

1. Propose the department's general policy and the necessary strategic plans to achieve its objectives and present them to the council for approval or take the necessary action in this regard.
2. Propose the necessary draft laws and decisions and present them to the council in order to decide what it deems appropriate in this regard.
3. Supervise the workflow in the department in accordance with the legislation and regulations in force, issuing administrative decisions and following up on their implementation.
4. Prepare the annual budget and the final account of the department in accordance with the procedures followed in this regard.
5. Supervise the mechanism of disbursement from the department's budget.
6. Develop and follow up work plans, priorities and related programmes and projects supervised by the department.
7. Sign contracts, agreements, memorandums of understanding and partnerships of the department.
8. Sign the administrative penalties stipulated in the applicable legislation related to the jurisdiction of the department, in coordination with the concerned authorities.
9. Represent the department before the judiciary and government entities and in its relations with others, and they may authorise any other person or entity to represent the department before the courts.
10. Form permanent and temporary committees and work teams affiliated with the department and defining their terms of reference and work system.
11. Delegate some powers to the department's senior employees in accordance with the legislation in force in the Emirate.
Submit the necessary reports on the work of the department to the Sharjah Ruler or the council.
12. Any other tasks or competences assigned by the Sharjah Ruler or the council.

The Decree also included a number of legal articles related to the organisational structure, financial resources, exemptions, judicial seizures, executive decisions, internal circulars and transitional provisions.