From My Mobility Vision
The passage of the Gig Workers Bill 2025 at its second reading marks an important milestone for Malaysia’s labour and mobility ecosystem. It is a step forward in recognising gig workers as a community that deserves legal protection, dignity, and fair treatment.
At My Mobility Vision, we have consistently voiced both support and concern. Support, because the bill finally gives recognition to gig workers, establishes a tribunal for dispute resolution, and extends social security coverage. Concern, because like any ambitious legislation, its effectiveness will depend on clarity, fairness, and proper implementation.
We must be clear: there are no winners or losers in this process. Supporters and critics alike have helped strengthen the framework. No one who questioned the bill should be branded a traitor. Healthy debate is not rejection, it is contribution. Parliamentary democracy and good governance depend on such scrutiny.
But, moving forward, three critical gaps must be addressed if the bill is to truly serve its purpose.
One-size-fits-all risks
By covering every kind of gig worker, from e-hailing to caregiving, delivery to digital freelancing, the law risks overlooking the different realities of each sector.
International best practice shows that phased, sector-specific approaches work better.
Social security fairness
Automatic deductions under a “postpaid” model are more practical than the old prepaid system, but protection means little if claims remain slow, complex, or inaccessible.
A seamless and fair claims process under the Social Security Organisation (Perkeso) must be at the heart of implementation, otherwise, the promise of social security will ring hollow.
Cost and unintended consequences
While API (Application Programming Interfaces) integration between platforms and Perkeso may look ideal in theory, for small and local operators, it could be a crippling financial burden.
Large platforms may treat integration as another IT upgrade, but for smaller players it could mean survival or closure.
This is why a regulatory impact assessment (RIA) is vital to test real costs across different segments and avoid entrenching the dominance of big players.
For these reasons, My Mobility Vision welcomes the bill as a foundation, but not the final word.
Our role now is to be the voice of reason as the Act moves from paper to practice. We will continue to engage the government, platforms, and workers to ensure protections do not become burdens, that security does not come at the expense of opportunity, and that innovation is not stifled by poorly calibrated rules.
We hope the government will not only hear our voices from afar, but also sit with us directly, because only through genuine engagement can this law truly serve the people it was written for.
The passage of the bill is not an ending, but the beginning of a longer journey. Implementation will decide whether this law becomes a true safety net or an unintended trap.
My Mobility Vision commits to working constructively with all stakeholders to ensure the Gig Workers Bill 2025 delivers on its promise: protection with fairness, regulation with balance, and innovation with responsibility.
My Mobility Vision is a transport think tank.
The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of FMT.
