E-hailing groups want training programmes to include degree holders
PETALING JAYA: Upskilling programmes should be made accessible to all gig workers regardless of their academic qualifications as more degree holders turn to the sharing economy amid a challenging job market, say industry groups.
Malaysia E-Hailing Drivers Association president Daryl Chong said such initiatives can address job mismatches at the root, as it has the potential to bridge degree holders into sectors that require degree-level skills.
“Many degree holders are entering the e-hailing sector or delivery work as the job market is not generating enough high-skilled positions to match supply.
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“Opening up programmes such as the Social Security Organisa-tion’s (PERKESO) Bina Kerjaya 2.0 programme to degree holders will give them a formal pathway to reskill or upskill while still earning,” he said.
The sharing economy refers to accessing or leveraging idle assets, goods and skills which are facilitated through digital platforms, with jobs including e-hailing or p-hailing riders, freelancers and home chefs or bakers.
The Bina Kerjaya 2.0 programme aims to ensure informal workers can access career development programmes and micro-credential training.
Target groups are gig workers and self-employed insured persons, aged between 16 and 50, whose highest qualification is a diploma or equivalent.
Gabungan eHailing Malaysia chief activist Masrizal Mahidin concurred, saying that degree holders within the sharing economy should be eligible to enrol for the programme.
He also said many graduates enter the gig economy due to various factors, including limited access to formal employment opportunities, among others.
“Regardless, they should have the opportunity to upskill through attaining professional certifications, digital skills and even industry-recognised micro-credentials,” he said.
Both Chong and Masrizal also supported the establishment of a grievance or appeals mechanism for system platform workers, urging for it to be transparent, independent and genuinely accessible.
“A proper grievance system won’t fix everything, but it gives workers assurance that disputes get a fair, documented review instead of a take-it-or-leave-it automated decision,” they said.
They also stressed the importance of recognising worker organisations as legitimate partners in policymaking.
Sunway University economics professor Dr Yeah Kim Leng said enhancing the inclusivity of social protection schemes as done by the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) and PERKESO is a step in the right direction.
“This is especially since freelancers have become a large and integral part of the workforce,” he said.
He said avenues to contribute to retirement savings and financial security are important factors in ensuring freelancers and gig workers can achieve sustainable livelihoods that provide long-term social and financial security.
Besides enhancing the attractiveness of such work arrangements, Yeah said it can also lead to increased viability of freelancing and gig work to develop into more permanent careers and livelihoods.
Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd chief economist Dr Mohd Afzanizam Abdul Rashid said there are valid reasons for government intervention so that the welfare of workers in the sharing economy are being taken care of.
“In particular, this includes the need to ensure higher absorption rate from informal to formal sector so that their social security is at least assured through PERKESO alongside EPF contributions,” he said.
