PETALING JAYA: The Gig Consultation Council (MPG) plays a significant role in uniting gig workers in the film and arts sector, says the Malaysian Professional Film Workers Association (Profima).
Its president Khalil Saleh said the council serves as a strategic and effective platform to address long-standing issues plaguing the industry, particularly regarding welfare and wage rates.
"Profima views the existence of the MPG as highly significant because it adopts a tripartite approach that unites gig workers in the film and arts sector, contracting entities and the government.
"We are confident this approach can serve as a medium for fair and constructive negotiation to achieve consensus and realistic, sustainable systemic change, including the setting of more reasonable wage rates," he said in a statement.
Khalil highlighted that wage rates for film workers remain at an unsatisfactory level and have been stagnant for a long time, failing to keep pace with the rising cost of goods and current living expenses.
"The film and arts industry has immense potential, and the Madani government has outlined major plans under the Orange Economy.
"However, we hope that the Gig Workers Act, through the MPG, will align with the aspirations and planning of the 13th Malaysia Plan so that it remains relevant and realistic, especially regarding wages for Malaysian film and arts workers," he said.
Khalil also congratulated Human Resources Ministry Minister Datuk Seri R Ramanan for continuing to empower the Gig Workers Act, which was gazetted in Dec 2025.
Khalil also said Profima expressed full support for the ministry's commitment to improving the gig worker ecosystem and hopes all planned initiatives will be realised in line with the spirit of the Act.
As a proactive measure, Khalil said Profima has held roundtable sessions with industry players across various specialisations, including technical crew, creative personnel and freelancers.
"The findings and resolutions from these sessions will be officially shared with the Human Resources Ministry as factual industry input based on on-the-ground realities," he added.
Khalil said Profima hopes these efforts will continue consistently to ensure that freelancers in the sector are not marginalised but are actively involved in national negotiation processes through the MPG.
