PUTRAJAYA - The Gig Workers Act 2025 (Act 872), which officially came into force today, is set to benefit about 1.64 million individuals involved in the country's gig sector.
Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri R. Ramanan said the historic achievement places Malaysia among the first in Asia to introduce specific labour legislation to comprehensively protect gig workers.
"This Act, which comes at a time when the employment landscape is changing, is a sign of our commitment to defend the fate and future of those who have been the backbone of the country’s digital economy,” he told a media conference announcing the enforcement of the act at Menara Perkeso, Putrajaya, here today.
He said it reflected the MADANI Government's commitment to ensuring the progress of the digital economy is in tandem with worker protection, making Malaysia a model of reference for a fairer and more sustainable gig economy development ecosystem.
Under Act 872, he said that gig workers now have clearer legal protections, including transparency in service agreements, agreed-upon income rates, a prohibition on discrimination, social security coverage through PERKESO, as well as occupational safety and health protection.
Ramanan explained that under the new act, the definition of a gig worker refers to a Malaysian citizen and permanent resident who enters into an agreement with a contracting entity and receives payment for each service provided.
He said that the act not only covers platform workers, such as e-hailing drivers and p-hailing delivery riders, but also protects non-platform gig workers, including those in the film, music, translation and journalism sectors.
He also denied allegations circulating on social media claiming that foreign workers are also protected under the act.
However, he assured that after the act comes into force, gig workers will continue to enjoy flexible working arrangements and that the legislation will not disrupt the gig ecosystem itself.
As for social security, platform providers are responsible for ensuring workers are registered under Act 789, as well as making automatic deductions for the Self-Employment Social Security Scheme (Lindung Kendiri) contribution at a rate of 1.25 per cent of daily task earnings, without affecting tips or incentives.
He added that the act also provided a more structured dispute resolution mechanism through the Industrial Relations Department (JPPM) and the Gig Workers Tribunal.
"If the dispute cannot be resolved at the conciliation stage, it will be referred to the Gig Workers Tribunal, which will conduct proceedings to ensure that the dispute is resolved professionally, free from external influence and based on the merits of the facts and the law,” he said.
Regarding account suspensions, he said platform providers must provide a written notice with a deactivation period of no more than 14 days for investigation purposes.
"If found not guilty, the workers’ account must be reactivated, and they are eligible to be paid 50 per cent of their expected earnings for the period of inactivity,” he said.
In line with its enforcement, he said the ministry has also introduced the eAduan system, accessible from tomorrow (April 1), at https://eaduan-gig.mohr.gov.my/ to enable workers to file gig-related complaints.
Ramanan said the ministry aims to resolve complaints within 21 working days, subject to the complexity of the case, and to allow complaints to be submitted in person at any agency under the ministry in line with the 'No Wrong Door Policy'.
To strengthen the sector's governance, Ramanan said 26 individuals have been appointed to the Gig Consultative Council (MPGIG), with the first meeting scheduled for April 3. It will, among other things, discuss gig worker income rates to achieve a comprehensive resolution. - BERNAMA