Flexible but unprotected: Life as a gig worker

In Malaysia, around 26% of the workforce participates in the gig economy, primarily through online-to-offline on-demand apps like ride-hailing and food delivery. — Unsplash

THE spillover of the gig economy in South-East Asia is creating economic opportunities, but also significant inequalities and vulnerabilities for workers.

While the flexibility offered by online gig platforms is attractive, it comes at the cost of limited job security, lack of social protection, and exploitation by platforms through algorithms and opaque evaluation systems.