SHAH ALAM - In 2026, e-hailing platforms expect that slower hiring elsewhere could see more unemployed Malaysians turn to gig work as a main source of income.
The shift is reinforced by strong platform growth and the Gig Worker Bill 2025 formalising protections and normalising gig work within Malaysia’s job market.
Maxim Malaysia Head of Legal Compliance and Government Relations Mushfique Ahmed Chowdhury said the company currently has thousands of drivers actively providing e-hailing and p-hailing services, with numbers continuing to grow.
He added that if employment in the traditional sector slowed, more Malaysians might turn to the gig economy as a temporary or supplemental income.
“Public reports show that Malaysia’s gig economy performed strongly in 2025, supported by positive economic momentum and the Gig Workers Bill, which formally protects over 1.2 million gig workers.
“This trend highlights the potential for gig workers to provide additional income opportunities for a broad range of individuals, including those from mid- to high-skilled workers,” he said.
Mushfique said the appeal of Maxim’s platform was that it offered a balanced combination of earning opportunities, flexibility and an active marketplace.
Based on data and experience, he said gig work could serve as a viable long-term livelihood, enabled by the flexible partner status Maxim provided.
He added that factual data showed that over 55 per cent of drivers relied on Maxim as their primary or sole income source and at around 63 per cent earned 50 to 80 per cent of their family’s income through the service.
Regarding more people participating in gig work, he said these opportunities can contribute to a more hybrid and resilient job market, encouraging adaptability among workers and supporting businesses in finding skilled, experienced talent.
Meanwhile, Bolt Head of Policy Azrani Rustam said the company recorded strong and consistent 40 per cent quarter-on-quarter growth in finished orders since launching in late 2024, alongside an average 25 per cent growth in active driver partners, particularly in the Klang Valley.
“Our recent survey showed us that e-hailing is already a significant source of livelihood for many drivers, a large majority of them relying on e-hailing as their main source of income, with most using their earnings to support household and day-to-day expenses,” he said.
Commenting about the main reasons people join their platform, he said drivers consistently highlight flexibility, earnings transparency and manageable operating costs.
“The gig economy is likely to become more outcome-focused.
“Drivers are less concerned with labels and more focused on practical outcomes, earnings clarity, flexibility and reliability of demand,” he added.
Azrani said over 70 per cent of drivers surveyed identified e-hailing as their primary source of income, which they commonly used to support their families and cover recurring expenses.
He also emphasised that the role of legislation, which was the Gig Worker Bill, was an important step in recognising that many gig workers operated independently, were highly mobile and were often active across multiple platforms.