Welfare justice is a core value of the social work profession and is emphasized in professional codes and social policy documents as a foundation for achieving social justice. However, the implications of different welfare approaches for social work interventions and the direction of social policy have been less systematically examined. This study analyzes welfare justice from a social work perspective and examines the implications of two welfare approaches: the residual and institutional approaches. The research used a qualitative approach and documentary content analysis. Data were extracted and analyzed from ten key international documents related to professional ethics in social work, social rights, and welfare policies. The findings identified five main themes explaining welfare justice: the perceptual gap between public understanding of social welfare and the structural reality of welfare systems; the multi‑level structure and mixed economy of welfare; the role of non‑profit organizations in delivering social services; the consequences of globalization for the emergence of new social inequalities; and the role of international institutions in welfare governance. The results indicate that institutional approaches, emphasizing rights‑based principles, inclusive social services, and governmental responsibility for public welfare, have greater potential to promote welfare justice and enhance the effectiveness of social work interventions. By proposing the conceptual model of “multi‑layered welfare governance,” this study contributes to discussions on social justice and welfare policy in social work.

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