KUALA LUMPUR, July 4 — A gig worker welfare bill is expected to be tabled for its first reading in Parliament in October, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
Zahid, who is also Rural and Regional Development Minister, said this was decided at a meeting of the Supreme Committee on the Establishment of the Malaysian Gig Economy Commission here today, which he chaired.
He said the enactment of this act is necessary as only about 250,000 out of the 1.16 million gig workers in the country contribute to the Social Security Organisation.
“A new act to address issues concerning gig workers will be presented by the Human Resources Ministry, and we have set a date for the first reading of this bill during the parliamentary sitting from October to December,” he said at a presser after the meeting, which was also attended by Human Resources Minister Steven Sim Chee Keong.
Zahid said it was agreed at the meeting to formally establish the Gig Economy Commission under the Prime Minister’s Department within two months.
He said the commission would not only cover e-hailing and p-hailing workers but also part-time and semi-professional workers who fall under the Self-Employment Social Security Act 2017.
He said the ministry will present a cabinet memorandum on the proposal for the establishment of the new act and various aspects of the gig economy in two weeks.
“This is a game changer initiated by the government as only a few countries in the world have implemented such an act and a Gig Economy Commission … such as the United States and India, with some neighbouring countries are in the process.
“The ILO (International Labour Organisation) will only hold a conference on this matter next year, but Malaysia, via the Human Resources Ministry, is taking proactive steps to do so earlier,” he said.
In February, Sim said the government will decide whether to amend the existing Employment Act 1955 or establish a new act to protect gig workers’ welfare.
— Bernama
