KUALA LUMPUR; The much-awaited Gig Workers Bill is targeted for tabling in the current Dewan Rakyat meeting, the Dewan Rakyat was told.
The Human Resources Ministry said 11 stakeholder engagements and six workshops have been held across Malaysia by the Bill’s working committee.
The engagements involved as many as 1,800 participants comprising stakeholders, industry players, platform providers, gig workers, and representatives from federal agencies and state governments, according to the ministry.
“All the feedback has been studied and considered to strengthen the Bill which will be presented to the Attorney-General’s Chambers for approval.
“Barring any obstacles, the Bill will be tabled for its first reading in the current meeting,” it said in a written reply on Thursday (Feb 6).
It said that the Bill aims to provide comprehensive protection for gig workers.
“It was specifically designed to ensure the welfare and rights of gig workers are upheld,” it said.
The Bill will focus on several aspects, including the definition, income, and social protection for gig workers, among others.
It said the Gig Economy Commission will meanwhile focus on upskilling and reskilling gig workers as well as monitoring and setting the direction for the gig economy’s development in Malaysia.
Separately, the ministry said some 303,522 food delivery riders and e-hailing drivers had actively contributed to social security schemes under the Social Security Organisation (PERKESO).
It was responding to a question by Nurul Amin Hamid (PN-Padang Terap) who asked how the new Bill is aligned with the Gig Economy Commission and strengthens the gig industry ecosystem.
He also asked about the number of gig workers that contributed to social security schemes.
In November last year, Human Resources Minister Steven Sim said the proposed Bill was on track to be tabled in Parliament in December (2024).
The sudden announcement however drew massive pushback from think-tanks and gig industry players, who called for the Bill’s tabling to be postponed until proper engagement with industry stakeholders was done.
This industry-wide criticism led unity government spokesperson Fahmi Fadzil to announce the immediate halt to tabling the Bill at a post-Cabinet meeting press conference on Nov 22.
