Gig Workers Bill Passed To Provide Social Protection For 1 2m M Sians Zahid

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PARLIAMENT | The Dewan Rakyat today passed the Gig Workers Bill 2025, a move Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi described as a crucial step toward ensuring social protection for more than 1.2 million Malaysians in the gig economy.
He said the bill reflects the Madani government’s commitment to formally recognise gig workers and protect them through structured social security, ending their long-standing marginalisation.
“This achievement is clear proof that the government listens to the people’s needs and ensures no one is left behind in the nation’s development. This bill ensures gig workers receive legal recognition and systematic social protection,” he said in a Facebook post.
He added that the gig economy has become a vital driver of national growth, encompassing sectors such as ride-hailing, e-hailing, digital freelancing and various online services.
The legislation aims to safeguard the rights of gig workers, regulate service agreements between workers and contracting entities, and establish the Malaysian Gig Economy Commission to oversee the sector’s development.
“This commission will serve as a catalyst for the entire shared economy ecosystem, including suppliers, buyers, service providers, platform operators, gig workers, consumers and the overall growth of the sharing economy,” he said.
DPM Ahmad Zahid HamidiHe also thanked the Human Resources Ministry for its role in drafting the bill and emphasised the importance of transparent and effective implementation.
At the forefront
Human Resources Minister Steven Sim said Malaysia has become one of the first countries in the world to have special legislation for the gig economy sector, with the passage of the bill in the Dewan Rakyat today.
“We are the 16th country in the world to have such legislation, which means we are at the forefront in empowering this sector.
“It will certainly give confidence to foreign investors because we respect labour practices with international standards,” he said at a press conference at the Parliament building after the bill was passed.
He said as a step forward, the Human Resources Ministry would hold a series of tours throughout the country to meet with stakeholders so that they truly understand and comply with the legal framework in the bill.
Addressing wage, payment uncertainty
Earlier, when wrapping up the debate on the bill, Sim said the issue of wage and payment uncertainty among gig economy workers in this country would be addressed through the establishment of a Tripartite Consultative Council.
He said the council would involve three main parties, namely representatives of gig workers, representatives of platform providers or employers and government representatives, as a platform for joint discussions on wage rates.
Human Resources Minister Steven Sim“In the council, it is not the government that determines the rate or formula; it is not the company that determines the rate or formula like now, but the workers and employers are sitting together on (one) platform,” he said.
Sim said the approach is important because gig workers do not have any legal channel to negotiate their payment rates or salaries directly.
Sim stated the bill would ensure that gig workers are protected from arbitrary termination, suspension or deactivation by contracting entities such as platform providers.
Regarding the status of gig workers, Sim said they remain freelancers and have the right to make job choices.
He said it is different from the status of traditional workers under the Employment Act 1955, where gig workers are on a “contract for service” and not a “contract of service”.
The Gig Workers Bill 2025 aims to protect the fate of 1.2 million gig workers in this country and has four basic components involving the definition of gig workers, the wage mechanism, the issue of payment rates and social security.
- Bernama

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