Progress Made on Gig Worker Legislation, Advancement Marks the Start of a Long Process
The Gig Workers Bill 2025, which recently passed its second reading, marks an important milestone for Malaysia's labour and mobility ecosystem. The bill recognises gig workers as a community that deserves legal protection, dignity, and fair treatment.
My Mobility Vision, a transport think tank, has voiced both support and concern about the bill. They welcome the recognition of gig workers and the establishment of a dispute resolution tribunal, but express concern about its effectiveness.
My Mobility Vision commits to working constructively with all stakeholders to ensure the bill delivers on its promise. They believe that the passage of the bill is just the beginning of a longer journey, and implementation will decide whether this law truly serves the people it was written for.
One of the key concerns raised by My Mobility Vision is the potential financial burden for small and local operators. API (Application Programming Interfaces) integration between platforms and Perkeso could be a crippling financial burden for these operators, who may treat integration as another IT upgrade, but for them, it could mean survival or closure.
The bill also extends social security coverage for gig workers, with a seamless and fair claims process under the Social Security Organisation (Perkeso) at the heart of its implementation. Automatic deductions under a "postpaid" model for social security are more practical than the old prepaid system, but protection means little if claims remain slow, complex, or inaccessible.
International best practice shows that phased, sector-specific approaches work better than a one-size-fits-all approach. The bill covers every kind of gig worker, from e-hailing to caregiving, delivery to digital freelancing. However, it may overlook the different realities of each sector due to its broad approach.
My Mobility Vision emphasises the importance of a regulatory impact assessment (RIA) to test real costs across different segments and avoid entrenching the dominance of big players. They also highlight the need to ensure protections do not become burdens for small operators.
Security should not come at the expense of opportunity, and innovation should not be stifled by poorly calibrated rules. My Mobility Vision hopes the government will not only hear their voices, but also sit with them directly for genuine engagement. They believe that healthy debate is not rejection, but contribution.
In conclusion, the Gig Workers Bill 2025 is a significant step forward for Malaysia's labour and mobility ecosystem. However, its effectiveness will depend on clarity, fairness, and proper implementation. My Mobility Vision will continue to engage the government, platforms, and workers to ensure protections do not become burdens, and the bill truly serves the people it was written for.
Read also:
- Understanding Hemorrhagic Gastroenteritis: Key Facts
- Stopping Osteoporosis Treatment: Timeline Considerations
- Trump's Policies: Tariffs, AI, Surveillance, and Possible Martial Law
- Expanded Community Health Involvement by CK Birla Hospitals, Jaipur, Maintained Through Consistent Outreach Programs Across Rajasthan
