Kuala lumpur: Dewan Negara today passed the Gig Workers’ Bill 2025, which will protect over 1.2 million gig workers in Malaysia, ensuring their welfare, social security, and rights as a vital part of the country’s workforce after a debate involving 18 Dewan Negara members.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Human Resources Minister Steven Sim Chee Keong stated that the bill would address weaknesses in existing Acts, specifically in enforcement, by introducing automatic deductions through Application Programming Interface (API) with platforms. He explained that gig workers in e-hailing and p-hailing sectors are expected to contribute to PERKESO (Social Security Organisation). The new provision allows for automatic deductions at a rate of 1.25 per cent from income after commissions and tips, translating to about one sen deducted for every RM1 earned. This approach is seen as more practical compared to the current method, where workers have to pay a lump sum for self-protection packages.
Sim highlighted the shift from the current prepaid model to a pre-postpaid method, where coverage is provided before payments are made, offering significant benefits to gig workers. Despite some differences of opinion regarding the bill, Sim emphasized that his ministry had engaged with the public to gather feedback and improve the draft, resulting in a version acknowledged by stakeholders. The bill comprises 112 clauses in 10 parts, focusing on defining gig workers, establishing a tripartite council for income and working conditions, a dispute resolution mechanism, and social security protection.
In addition to the Gig Workers’ Bill, the Dewan Negara also passed the Fisheries (Amendment) Bill 2025. Deputy Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Arthur Joseph Kurup explained that the bill aims to strengthen fisheries laws to combat illegal, unreported, and unsupervised fishing, and to increase penalties for fisheries-related offences. The bill raises fines for those involved with endangered species from RM5,000 to RM250,000 and increases general penalties from RM20,000 to RM100,000, with offences involving explosives, poisons, and pollutants facing fines from RM20,000 to RM250,000.
Kurup noted that offences in marine parks and reserves could result in fines up to RM1 million. The bill aims to enhance coordination between enforcement agencies and improve subsection 13(3A) to prevent license applications from convicted offenders for up to five years, addressing repeat offences. New sections introduced in the bill include Section 56C, which gives the Fisheries director-general authority to control fishing activities in polluted areas, and Section 57A, which addresses offences related to providing false statements under the Act.
The Dewan Negara sitting will continue tomorrow.