KUALA LUMPUR — The p-hailing riders’ association, Persatuan Penghantar P-Hailing Malaysia (Penghantar) has backed industry players’ calls for the Human Resources Ministry to engage with stakeholders prior to the tabling of the Gig Workers Bill in Parliament.
In a statement today, Penghantar said it is only fair that the ministry provide stakeholders a chance to voice their insights and opinions, particularly regarding implementation mechanisms, before the bill is brought to the Dewan Rakyat in December.
“A dialogue session will give space to all stakeholders, thus harmonising the bill based on the needs of the industry’s grassroots and relevant parties.
“We also suggest that the dialogue session is joined by representatives from all ministries and government agencies involved,” the association added.
It stressed that such an engagement session should be held as soon as possible e so that the government’s objective of strengthening the gig industry here can be achieved.
Penghantar also stated its support of a joint statement yesterday issued by gig economy platforms Foodpanda, GoGet, Grab, Halo Delivery, Kiddocare and Lalamove calling for a delay in the bill’s tabling.
The industry players said they and gig workers have not been thoroughly consulted on the proposed law.
Expressing concern over how the draft bill has not been shared in full and lamenting limited feedback processes, the companies said more time is needed to hold proper consultations with all stakeholders to ensure that the final framework reflects the diverse needs of gig workers.
On November 3, Human Resources Minister Steven Sim said 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, he said, aims to grant rights to gig workers, addressing their lack of protection under existing laws that do not classify them as employees.
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, which are currently unavailable to gig workers regarded as independent contractors. – November 22, 2024