KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 26 – The Madani government is set to table the Gig Workers Bill 2025 for its second reading tomorrow, but several shortcomings in the draft law must be addressed before it is passed.
Director of the Research and Policy Department, PAS Central Information Committee, Ir. Ts. Nurul Islam Mohamed Yusoff said a review of the bill revealed that many provisions remain weak and do not truly protect gig workers.
“Sections 8 to 10 outline basic rights such as being informed of pay rates, protection against termination without reasonable cause, and the right to form associations. But the problem is, the term ‘reasonable cause’ is too vague. It leaves room for companies to interpret it however they want. The right to association is also symbolic because it’s not as strong as trade union rights under the Industrial Relations Act 1967,” he explained.
He also raised concerns over Sections 11 to 15, which deal with payment and financial protection. According to him, the requirement that payment be made within seven days is impractical for gig workers who live on daily income.
“Gig workers survive day to day. They need money immediately to refuel, service their motorbikes, or buy groceries. Waiting seven days is simply too long,” he said. He added that deductions allowed under the pretext of ‘company error’ could be abused. “If every deduction can be justified as a ‘company mistake’, then it opens the door to manipulation,” he stressed.
On Section 14, Nurul Islam criticised the power given to platforms to suspend gig workers’ accounts for up to 14 days pending investigation.
“Imagine losing access to your account for two weeks. That means no income at all, even before being proven guilty. Investigations should be completed within 24 hours. If more time is needed, then companies must at least pay a minimum daily wage during the suspension. Only then will they take investigations seriously,” he argued.
Regarding dispute resolution under the Tribunal (Sections 24–45), he questioned the prohibition against legal representation.
“The Bill only allows gig workers to be represented by family members or associations. But not all gig workers understand the law or their rights. Without proper legal representation, their access to justice is weakened,” he said.
He also highlighted issues with the Consultative Council (Sections 46–68), which is supposed to recommend minimum pay rates and work standards.
“In reality, the real power still lies with the Minister. The government can accept or reject recommendations at its discretion. This shows that gig workers’ voices are still not guaranteed. If everything depends on ministerial power, then what’s the point of having this Council?” he asked.
Nurul Islam concluded that while the Gig Workers Bill 2025 is a positive step forward, it must be refined to ensure genuine protection for gig workers.
“We don’t want this law to be just cosmetic. It may look good on paper, but if it doesn’t solve the real problems, then it’s meaningless. It would simply be a case of window-dressing,” he said. – Harakahdaily 26/08/2025
