Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim approved the establishment of the Gig Workers Commission, opening the door for gig economy workers to obtain the same rights and protections as regular employees as outlined in the nation’s labour laws.
According to Dr Jaid Yassin, Senior Lecturer at the Faculty of Management and Business, Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) Sabah, workers in the gig economy would now be able to contribute to the Social Security Organisation (Sosco) and get social protection as a result of the commission’s establishment.
In an interview with Bernama, Dr. Jaid expressed his intention to tackle the challenges encountered by professionals and employees in the freelance economy, with a particular focus on establishing an equitable payment system that could potentially lead to the implementation of minimum wage protection in the future.
Many people now view gig labour as a transient position because there are no organisations or bodies advocating for the rights of gig economy workers, such as social protection and fair pay, even as demand for businesses like Foodpanda and GrabFood continues to increase.
Daryl Chong, President of MeHDA, is optimistic that the commission will address the issue of many e-hailing drivers and food delivery riders who are wrongfully fired by their operating businesses. Currently, there are about 1.2 million gig workers in Malaysia.
We fire some clients within 24 hours, while we put others on hold for one or two days while we conduct the investigation. Authorities generally do this in part and without a fair trial if they think the reported event is serious.
He stated that the workers cannot defend themselves, noting that the commission may assist in ensuring a fair and appropriate procedure that involves holding a domestic inquiry hearing prior to firing any employee, according to the New Straits Times.
