The Role of Social Work in Enhancing Social Welfare for the Working Class in Libyan Society

Abstract

The research examines the social welfare system for the working class in Libyan society, considering it a professional framework of services designed to bridge gaps in social and economic structures. The study highlights a significant social problem emerging since the 1990s, characterized by the marginalization of workers due to unrealistic economic policies, such as the privatization of factories and the abolition of trade unions. These shifts led to widespread poverty, loss of livelihoods, and a decline in labor rights. Using a descriptive methodology based on scientific observation and literature review, the research seeks to define the role of social work in professional intervention. It explores how social work models can be utilized for treatment, development, and prevention within developmental plans. The study emphasizes the necessity of reactivating labor unions and the Cultural Institute for Labor Culture to restore workers' rights and dignity. Key findings suggest that current state interventions are often superficial, requiring a comprehensive legislative overhaul and a new compensation law for affected workers. The paper concludes that social welfare must be inclusive and integrated, ensuring physical and psychological health for workers to achieve national stability. It calls for integrating labor culture into social science curricula to enhance the professional role of social workers in industrial settings.