KUALA LUMPUR – The P-hailing riders’ association, Persatuan Penghantar P-Hailing Malaysia (Penghantar), has called on the government to provide full details of the Gig Workers Bill before it is presented in Parliament in December.
In a statement, Penghantar expressed gratitude towards the Human Resources Ministry (Kesuma) for drafting the bill, aimed at protecting gig workers in the e-hailing and p-hailing sectors.
However, the association stressed the importance of receiving the complete framework and further clarification on its implementation.
“As a key stakeholder in this sector, we hope that the Gig Workers Bill will genuinely have a positive impact on the industry and address the issues faced by e-hailing drivers and p-hailing riders,” the association said in the statement issued yesterday evening
Penghantar proposed a roundtable discussion involving the Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC), NGOs, and community representatives of both e-hailing and p-hailing drivers. The association believes such a dialogue would serve as a check-and-balance mechanism and ensure the policies are harmonised after the bill’s approval.
The group emphasised that the bill marks a crucial step for the current government in supporting the welfare of gig workers, who have long been excluded from traditional employment protections.
Human Resources Minister Steven Sim previously announced on November 3 that the bill would align Malaysia’s e-hailing and p-hailing sectors with global standards, similar to those in Singapore, the United States, and Australia. The new legislation aims to grant rights to gig workers, addressing their lack of protection under existing laws that do not classify them as employees.
“This is a step towards good governance, to grant rights to our workers. That is what we have been working on over the past eight to 10 months, to give dignity and humanity to our workforce,” Sim stated during an event in Perlis.
Expected to be tabled in the final parliamentary sitting of the year, ending on December 12, the bill promises financial and fiduciary protections akin to those provided by the Employment Act for full-time employees.
This includes potential 24-hour social security coverage, as highlighted by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who chairs a special committee on the establishment of a gig economy commission.
Sources previously told Scoop that the bill will cover payment methods, ensure tips belong to workers, allow gig workers to contract with multiple parties, and provide mechanisms for complaint and dispute resolution—currently unavailable to gig workers regarded as independent contractors. – November 14, 2024
