Kuala lumpur: The Gig Workers Bill is slated to be introduced in Parliament as early as August or September, announced Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. The proposed legislation, initiated by the government, aims to be the first of its kind worldwide, focusing on safeguarding Malaysia’s gig economy industry.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the bill represents a critical step in establishing a social protection framework for more than 1.12 million Malaysians working in the gig sector. Unlike other countries, which have merely amended existing laws to accommodate gig workers, Malaysia is pioneering a new and dedicated act. Ahmad Zahid shared this during a press conference following the Sharing Economy and Gig Industry Roundtable Session.

Previously, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim assured that the concerns and welfare of gig workers would be promptly addressed through the bill’s drafting. Ahmad Zahid also noted that the International Labour Organisation (ILO) has shown interest in learning from Malaysia’s approach to drafting this legislation. This interest was communicated by Malaysian Gig Community Secretariat chairman Datuk Seri Mohd Sharkar Shamsudin, who is currently in Geneva to share insights about the bill with the ILO.

The Gig Workers Bill seeks to provide fair protection for gig workers, aligning with efforts to foster a fair, inclusive, and resilient future economy. In a related statement, Ahmad Zahid mentioned that the forthcoming Malaysian Gig Economy Commission (SEGiM) will be a crucial element of the national gig economy framework. The commission will oversee the implementation, coordination, and monitoring of the sector to ensure compliance and transparency.

SEGiM will function under the Prime Minister’s Department to facilitate integrated policy coordination at the national level. Ahmad Zahid also stated that the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation will maintain its role as the technical secretariat, gathering industry feedback and coordinating engagement with the Human Resource Ministry.

The roundtable session was also attended by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said and Deputy Human Resource Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Mohamad.