KUALA LUMPUR: Two Johor MPs have called on fellow lawmakers to support the passage of the Gig Workers Bill 2025 when it is brought for the second and third readings in the Dewan Rakyat.
"We urge all Members of Parliament and stakeholders to support the passage of this Bill. The future of work is changing, and Malaysia must not fall behind in ensuring that no citizen is left behind in this wave of economic transformation," Muar MP Syed Saddiq bin Syed Abdul Rahman and Pasir Gudang MP Hasan Abdul Karim said in a joint statement on Tuesday (Aug 26).
"It is time for this Bill to be tabled and passed in Parliament, not only to protect gig workers but also to recognise their contributions in building our national economy," they added.
They urged for the crucial Bill to not be delayed any further in order to ensure more comprehensive protection for over 1.2 million gig workers in the country.
"This Bill is a historic step in Malaysia’s efforts to build a more modern, structured and competitive labour market, especially for the rapidly growing gig sector in our nation," they said.
They also referenced the Elmina crash tragedy last year, noting that the family of the gig worker involved not only lost a loved one but also their breadwinner, as one of the e-hailing drivers who died did not have social protection.
At the same time, a court decision in 2022 revealed that gig workers in Malaysia cannot bring their grievances to the labour court because they are not recognised as "employees" under current labour laws.
This means gig workers are not protected under any labour law in Malaysia despite facing numerous work-related problems and challenges.
If passed, the Bill will mean gig workers will be officially recognised in national legislation, which will in turn provide guarantees in terms of income, social protection and dispute resolution mechanisms.
The four key pillars of this Bill are the clear definition of gig workers, income recognition, dispute resolution mechanisms, and the expansion of social protection, directly addressing the concerns of workers and industry players.
The MPs said the Bill will provide clarity on the status of gig workers, eliminating long-standing ambiguity; enhance the competitiveness of the gig sector by creating a more structured work environment; ensure worker welfare without compromising the flexibility that makes gig work attractive; and strengthen investor confidence in Malaysia’s digital economy ecosystem.
