Bring gig workers’ welfare under HR ministry, not commission, says KJ

 

Former minister Khairy Jamaluddin said the proposed gig economy commission is politically motivated, with deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi behind it. (Bernama pic)

KUALA LUMPUR: 

Efforts to safeguard the welfare of gig workers should be routed through the human resources ministry’s gig workers’ economy bill rather than the proposed gig economy commission, says a former minister.

Speaking in the latest episode of the Keluar Sekejap podcast, Khairy Jamaluddin said the commission appeared to be politically motivated.

“Perhaps someone sees this as an opportunity to gain strong support from 500,000 gig workers.

“Yes, who else but the greatest political mind in the Cabinet, none other than deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi?

“Someone must have approached him and said, ‘Boss, there are 500,000 people here. If we become their defender, they will support you, and in Bagan Datuk, you could win by more than 300 votes in the next election’.”

Khairy also said the commission would add unnecessary bureaucracy, increase costs and complicate the delicate issue of worker protection within the rapidly expanding gig economy.

“Why create more bureaucracy? Why establish another body that will increase government costs when the most important thing is ensuring that the bill comes from the human resources ministry?”

Last month, government spokesman Fahmi Fadzil said the bill had been postponed to make way for further discussions.

Zahid had announced in July that the bill will be tabled this month as well as plans for the commission to be placed under the Prime Minister’s Department.

Shahril Hamdan, the podcast’s co-host, echoed Khairy’s concerns and said the priority should be protecting the rights of gig workers while maintaining the flexibility that makes gig work attractive.

He cautioned against treating gig workers like full-time employees, noting that the sector’s success depended on its ability to offer flexible working conditions and supplementary income.

“We need to ensure that whatever is done, there’s a middle ground in the current situation, which is seen as having inadequate protection, and the extreme idea of treating them like permanent employees,” he said, adding that both extremes could prove detrimental to those involved. - FMT