KUALA LUMPUR (July 24): Lawmakers from different parties on Thursday called on the government to clearly define what constitutes a gig worker ahead of the anticipated tabling of the Gig Worker Bill in Parliament during the current session.
While debating on the 2023 Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) report in the Dewan Rakyat, members of Parliament stressed that the absence of a standardised legal definition leaves gig workers vulnerable and outside the scope of labour protection laws.
“The lack of a clear definition of gig workers, coupled with outdated labour laws, prevents the implementation of more inclusive and fair protection,” said Mohd Hasnizan Harun (PN – Hulu Selangor).
In Malaysia, gig workers generally refer to individuals performing short-term, on-demand tasks facilitated by digital platforms such as Grab and FoodPanda. They include ride-hailing and food delivery riders, freelancers, and online content creators. However, a clearer definition of what can be considered as gig workers under the current labour laws still remains unclear.
“Gig workers face health and safety risks, lack a dedicated complaint channel, and a minimum wage guarantee or working hour limits,” Mohd Hasnizan added.
Former Human Resources Minister Sivakumar Varatharaju Naidu (PH–Batu Gajah) also echoed the concern, stating that the definitional ambiguity exposes these workers to occupational risks without any formal safety net.
The long-awaited Gig Worker Bill, originally scheduled for tabling in October 2024, is now expected to be presented during the current parliamentary session, according to Deputy Human Resources Minister Abdul Rahman Mohamad in his winding-up speech. The bill aims to establish a social protection framework to benefit over 1.12 million Malaysians in the sector.
The bill is much needed now, said government backbencher Mohammed Taufiq Johari (PH–Sungai Petani), who highlighted that the country will see over 26% of its workforce — or about three million people by 2025 — depending on gig income, up from 2.4 million in 2024.
Some efforts being taken by the government towards gig workers include the introduction of mandatory social protection contributions for gig workers through the Social Security Organisation (Socso), or Perkeso, beginning January 2026. A 1.25% deduction per ride or delivery will be automatically channelled into a protection scheme.
Separately, the i-Saraan scheme — a voluntary self-contribution mechanism under the Employees Provident Fund — is also available for informal workers.
The Suhakam 2023 report spans seven chapters, detailing the commission’s activities across human rights education, policy development, international coordination, complaints handling, monitoring and financial management.
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