Relief fund urgently needed for freelancers and self-employed music and arts workers

The Rockaway music festival at Bukit Jalil on Nov 19, 2016, with Butterfingers on stage. This year's event has been cancelled. — Filepic/The Star

It has been a hard three months for everyone but especially so for those in the business of music and the arts. So many people are affected by the inability to put on shows and events.

Late last year, then Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad indicated that the government would put in place provisions and regulations to ensure that workers in the gig economy would be protected. Freelancers live precariously, as they are not entitled to the benefits a permanent worker receives such as pensions, Employees' Provident Fund savings, workers' insurance or sick pay. Nor do they have the security of a regular salary and paperwork that would allow them to access loans and credit facilities.