DPM: We’ll look after gig workers

SHAH ALAM: The setting up of the Gig Economy Commission will be sped up once approval from the Cabinet is received, says Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

The statement came in the wake of protests by ehailing riders last week over grouses of pay structure.

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Ahmad Zahid said he had put forward the proposal before the state elections last year after meeting with industry players to further ensure the welfare of gig workers.

“I believe that the commission needs to be formed soon as there are over 1.2 million workers involved in the sector.

“They need to contribute to Socso (Social Security Organisation) and the employers, too, must ensure that, on top of the contributions to EPF (Employee Provident Fund).

“Despite some challenges, I am committed, alongside Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, to realise the commission,” he told reporters after the Unity Ponggal celebration here yesterday.

“We will formalise it (the commission) after receiving approval from the Cabinet,” he added.

Last July, Ahmad Zahid said the commission – tentatively called SEGiM – would resolve issues in the informal work ecosystem as well as create initiatives that would take care of the welfare of consumers, vendors, traders, workers and service platform providers.

However, then human resources minister V. Sivakumar said in November that the government had no plan to set up the commission as it would overlap with other committees.

Last Friday, a peaceful protest was held by a group of about 300 delivery riders to demand that an ehailing company resolve several issues, such as reinstating the previous base fare for deliveries within the Klang Valley and maintaining pickup bonuses.

On another issue, Ahmad Zahid, who is also the Rural and Regional Development Minister, said village heads nationwide would be mobilised to help those living in the rural areas register for the Central Database Hub (Padu) system.

“There are manual registration provided for Padu to ensure that all target groups can be addressed.

“We will mobilise village heads and leaders to help their areas to register for Padu using offline platforms too.

“We will help people living in the rural areas to get registered,” he added.

The government has projected to register 29 million people for Padu by March.

Earlier this year, Anwar said that Padu was supposed to ensure the efficient distribution of aid and subsidies, and that they reach the target groups.