PUTRAJAYA: The proposed law to protect the gig economy is still on track and expected to be tabled in Parliament by the end of this year, says Steven Sim.
The Human Resources Minister said he was making efforts to bring the legislation to the Dewan Rakyat by year-end, which is aimed to protect the welfare of gig workers.
"The Bill is aimed at protecting gig workers who have long been struggling and are working outside the scope of our labour laws.
"We will definitely table the Bill to protect their rights," he said in his speech at the National Trade Union Assembly 2024 on Thursday (Nov 14).
Earlier, a transport think tank urged the government to delay the proposed Gig Workers’ Economy Bill until next year, saying more engagements with stakeholders are needed.
MY Mobility Vision said rushing the Bill without a more robust engagement process could lead to unintended challenges for both workers and platforms in the gig economy.
It said the Bill also lacks a clear definition of what constitutes a “platform owner or operator”, which could lead to confusion over who is accountable for worker protection and how these responsibilities will be enforced.
The think tank said focussing on only a few gig economy sectors, like e-hailing and food delivery, will risk creating uneven protection that may leave many gig workers without the support they need.
Last month, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the proposed legislation will be tabled by the Human Resources Ministry in December after the conclusion of the debate on the Supply Bill 2025.
He said the proposed bill will introduce a safety net for gig workers, ensuring comprehensive protection that includes not only contributions to EPF but also coverage from the Social Security Organisation as well as provisions for medical treatment costs.
The proposed legislation is aimed at giving greater protection to the 1.16 million gig workers nationwide.
Sim added that the other piece of legislation that will be tabled is the Sarawak Labour Ordinance (SLO), by year end, to standardise the rights of workers in the country.
"After that, the rights of all workers whether in the Peninsula, Sabah or Sarawak will be standardised.
"They will all be protected equally," he added.
He also aimed to record a total of two million trade union members by this year.
As of September this year, there are 759 unions with more than one million members across the country, he said.
