PETALING JAYA: A fair minimum wage structure and dispute resolution mechanisms are among the likely provisions of the much-anticipated Gig Workers’ Bill, says the Malaysian e-hailing Association (GEM).
GEM chief activist Jose Rizal said these were part of several proposals raised by government representatives during their engagements with stakeholders in the gig industry, with the aim of protecting gig workers.
He said there was also a proposal to formalise gig workers in the digital labour ecosystem to distinguish them from salaried employees.
Introduction of new fair wage structures and a possible minimum salary threshold for gig workers, as well as a dispute resolution mechanism between workers and platforms, was also discussed.
“The government also proposed placing gig workers under social protection provisions like Social Security Organisation (PERKESO), Employees Provident Fund (EPF), insurance and welfare support,” Rizal told The Star.
He added that the final Bill should clearly define all enforcement mechanisms that will be introduced and address other core issues, such as providing reasonable working hours, algorithmic transparency and freedom of association for gig workers.
“We are ready to collaborate with the government to ensure that our gig economy is not only competitive and innovative, but also rooted in fairness, justice and worker-led representation,” he added.
He also said the Bill should be tabled in Parliament first before the Malaysian Gig Economy Commission (SEGiM) or any other gig-related body is established to avoid unintentionally disrupting the legislative process.
“The priority must be to ensure that the Gig Workers’ Bill is passed in Parliament so it can serve as the foundational legal framework for gig worker protection.
“By strengthening the legal foundation first, we can prevent any possible exploitation of SEGiM by external parties for political or corporate gain under the guise of protecting gig workers,” he said.
Malaysia E-Hailing Drivers Association (MeHDA) president Daryl Chong said tabling the Bill and establishing SEGiM should go hand-in-hand to bring proper structural reform.
“The Bill must give SEGiM the authority it needs to balance the power between gig workers and digital platforms to ensure a more just and transparent ecosystem.
“A transparent grievance mechanism must also be established under SEGiM through the Bill where drivers can challenge and appeal unfair decisions made against them.
“This must include the ability to challenge the unlawful and arbitrary termination or deactivation of driver accounts by platforms,” he said.
He also suggested the Bill introduce capped platform commission rates so drivers are not subjected to ever-shrinking margins while platforms rake in profits.
Chong added that driver associations must also be formally represented in the SEGiM council to ensure transparency and reflect the true voices and concerns of the gig workforce.
The tabling of the Gig Workers’ Bill in Parliament was originally scheduled for October last year, then postponed to November last year and again it was not tabled.
It was rescheduled to March but was postponed yet again after pushback from certain quarters.
On July 1, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the Gig Workers’ Bill would likely be tabled in Parliament sometime in early August or September.
He said the Bill would provide over 1.12 million gig workers with a social protection framework.
