MELAKA: The Gig Workers Commission Bill will be tabled in the next Parliament meeting in July, says the Prime Minister.
Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the commission will prioritise social protection, contract disputes and career advancement of the 1.12 million gig workers in the country.
He said the proposal for the body was put forward by youth.
“The government has formulated and completed the legislation and hopefully it will be tabled when Parliament meets next to fulfil demands made by youth,” he said in his keynote address at the 2024 National Youth Day celebration at Dataran Pahlawan in Bandar Hilir here yesterday.
He had first announced the setting up of a Gig Workers Commission at the Bumiputera Economic Congress in Putrajaya in March.
Following this, Human Resources Minister Steven Sim said his ministry was working on refining the terms of the commission, its functions and financial management in collaboration with Universiti Malaya.
At the National Youth Day event yesterday, Anwar said youth had the responsibility of helping to build a stronger nation and determining the future of the country.
He said they must have confidence, idealism, be respectful to others, and also reject corruption.
“Young Malaysians should also reject any form of racism or narrow-minded views while focusing on the enrichment of knowledge to make the nation strong,” he said, adding that moral values must also always be upheld.
Anwar said his administration prioritised programmes related to the economy, training and youth’s well-being in fulfilling its responsibilities to the country.
Earlier, he urged youth to understand the justification behind the government’s move on the rationalisation of fuel and electricity subsidies.
He said they must also understand that the implementation of rationalised subsidies in the country is specifically targeted at deserving Malaysians as the current subsidy mechanism also benefited wealthy businessmen and some 3.8 million foreigners.
“Youth must be aware that the rationalisation of the diesel subsidy directly affects young people involved in industries using diesel.
“I hope they understand why we are doing this, and if some people want to oppose, I will ask why we should subsidise 3.8 million foreigners who do not pay taxes, why should we give handouts to the extremely wealthy?” he retorted.
Anwar said 85% of Malaysians were not affected by the government’s decision to increase the power tariff, adding that the move only affected multinational corporations and mega export-oriented firms.
Also present at yesterday’s event were Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh and federal Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh.
