Introduce Socso contributions for gig workers in phases, govt urged

 With the Gig Workers Act 2025 rolling out tomorrow, a coalition also calls for incentives and subsidies for workers and platforms alike.

The Gig Workers Act 2025 will be enforced tomorrow after it was passed by the Dewan Negara last September. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA:

 A coalition led by transport think tank My Mobility Vision has called for mandatory Socso contributions to be introduced in phases, on the eve of the enforcement of the Gig Workers Act 2025.

The coalition said the Socso contributions should be supported by incentives and subsidies for workers and platforms alike.

In a statement today, it also called for transparency in the setting up of the consultative council, said to comprise representatives of the workers, and the platforms, and independent technical experts.

The coalition said the government must also create a standard format when calculating the drivers’ cost of living, which should include everyday expenses like fuel, maintenance, insurance, platform fees, and even time spent waiting for pickups.

It said the formula should be regularly updated based on current market prices.

“Malaysia’s gig workers do not need symbolic protection.

“They need a framework that works, one that accounts for their real costs, governs with precision rather than presumption, and treats the consultative council as a serious institution rather than a compliance checkbox,” the coalition said.

The recommendations follow a roundtable held earlier this month.

The Dewan Negara passed the Gig Workers Bill 2025 on Sept 9 last year.

The bill contains 112 clauses in 10 parts, emphasising four main aspects – the definition of gig workers, the establishment of a tripartite council to determine income and working conditions, a dispute resolution mechanism, and social security protection. - FMT