Malaysia outlines key areas to safeguard gig workers’ welfare

The Malaysian HR Ministry emphasises crucial steps for the Gig Workers Commission, spanning legislation, grievance mechanisms, and more.
By: | May 23, 2024
Topics: Compensation and Benefits | Compliance | Malaysia | News

The Human Resources Ministry of Malaysia has outlined six critical areas that need to be addressed to successfully establish the Gig Workers Commission, aimed at safeguarding the welfare of gig workers in the country.

The six areas of focus include relevant legislation, the establishment of a grievance mechanism, defining the structure and functions of the commission, assessing financial implications, determining wage rates, and ensuring social protection and occupational safety and health. Additionally, an integrated database for the registration of gig workers and platform providers has also been emphasised.

This announcement follows a meeting between Steven Sim, Minister of Human Resources, and a consulting team from Universiti Malaya. According to the ministry, the establishment of the Gig Workers Commission is expected to provide a formal channel to address prevalent issues in the gig economy, such as grievances related to platform manipulation, wage determination, and other related concerns.

An interim report on the establishment of the commission is slated for presentation at the cabinet meeting in June, with a final report expected in August.

READ MORE: Gig employees in Malaysia to enjoy same rights as formal employees

The move for the swift establishment of the commission has been underscored by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who emphasised the importance of championing the interests of gig workers. Speaking on Labour Day, Anwar stressed that establishing this commission is crucial to providing greater attention and concern for workers in the gig economy.

The initiative to form the Gig Workers Commission was first announced by Anwar during his closing speech at the Bumiputera Economic Congress in Putrajaya. In March 2024, Sim confirmed that the ministry, in collaboration with Universiti Malaya, was conducting a study to facilitate the commission’s establishment, with an interim study report set to be presented to the cabinet within three months, reported New Straits Times.