BANGI, July 1, 2025 — Malaysia is on track to introduce a landmark Gig Workers Bill into Parliament by August or September 2025, aiming to protect over 1.12 million gig economy workers across both platform-based and freelance sectors.
Government and Industry Align in Key Roundtable
During the pivotal Sharing Economy & Gig Industry Roundtable Session chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, key discussions laid the groundwork for the upcoming bill. Watch a clip from the session for more details on the proceedings and Zahid’s emphasis on worker welfare.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi chaired a close door Sharing Economy & Gig Industry Roundtable Session. The meeting convened more than 100 participants, including top government officials and representatives from over 80 gig economy platforms nationwide businesstoday.com.my.
Zahid emphasized that the upcoming law is a vital move toward providing “a social protection framework for over 1.12 million Malaysians involved in the sector,” and highlighted the need to ensure both worker welfare and platform flexibility.
A Novel Legislative Approach
In contrast to other countries that modify existing labour laws, Zahid announced that Malaysia is pursuing a brand‑new standalone gig economy act. “Several countries have amended existing laws to include gig workers, but in Malaysia, we are introducing a new and dedicated act,” he stated.
Earlier, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim affirmed that the Bill would comprehensively address gig workers’ welfare, contract disputes, and social security deficits.
Curious about how this legislation will differ from existing labor laws? 
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi speaking at a press conference, under the headline ‘Gig workers bill to be tabled in parliament by September, says Ahmad Zahid’ from The Sun newspaper.”
SEGiM Commission to Oversee Implementation
At the heart of Malaysia’s new regulatory strategy is the Malaysian Gig Economy Commission (SEGiM). SEGiM will operate under the Prime Minister’s Department, with MDEC as its technical secretariat and coordination hub across ministries—including Human Resources and Transport.
Its core mandates will include ensuring fair practices, promoting self-regulation on platforms, encouraging compliance, and facilitating policy coordination across agencies.
Learn more about SEGiM’s role in shaping the gig economy’s future. 
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi addressing the media, surrounded by other men, under the headline ‘Gig Workers’ Bill set for Parliament tabling, says Ahmad Zahid’ from The Edge Malaysia.
ILO Interest and Stakeholder Advocacy
The International Labour Organisation (ILO) has shown interest in Malaysia’s legislative direction, following briefings by the Malaysian Gig Community Secretariat in Geneva.
Meanwhile, rider associations and advocacy groups like UNI‑MLC urged the government to publish the Bill first, allowing refinements later—pointing to the urgency of gig worker protections. Platform companies, including Grab, FoodPanda, and ShopeeFood, have expressed concern that overly stringent provisions could disrupt gig income flows and livelihoods.
Human Resources Minister Steven Sim revealed that more than 20 stakeholder sessions involving over 3,000 participants have been conducted, covering topics such as wages, social protection, and upskilling for broader gig roles.
Who’s Impacted? 10 Key Gig Roles Likely Covered
Based on current draft proposals, news coverage, and expert analysis, here are 10 types of gig roles that are expected to fall under the protections of the upcoming legislation:
- Ride-hailing drivers (e.g., Grab, Bolt drivers) – high platform control, location‑based
- Food/parcel delivery riders (e.g., FoodPanda, Lalamove riders) – location-based, algorithmic dispatching
- Freelance content creators (writers, video producers) – web-based gig roles
- Social media influencers, KOLs/KOCs – paid brand campaign freelancers
- Digital marketing contractors and consultants – independent but project-based
- Graphic designers and visual content freelancers – web-based creative roles
- Tutors, online educators, and gig teachers – flexible, digital or in-person engagements
- Translators, translators on crowd work platforms – remote, project-driven digital gig work
- Software developers, web designers, tech freelancers – task-based, independent projects
- Reviewers, survey takers, microtask crowdworkers – mostly digital-platform mediated roles
These roles mirror recent data showing that roughly 26% of Malaysia’s workforce comprises freelancers or own-account workers—some 3–4 million individuals—with growing reliance on gig platforms for income.
Pillars of the Proposed Bill
The proposed gig law is likely to rest on four foundational pillars:
- A clear legal definition for gig/workers, distinguishing platform and non-platform roles and recognizing sector-specific variations. This is crucial for improving worker protection and establishing minimum wage standards and reasonable working conditions, as highlighted by FocusMalaysia.my.
- Minimum compensation guarantees, particularly for ride-hailing, delivery workers, and high-consistency gig roles, to address income concerns and unregulated pricing competition.
- A structured grievance mechanism to address pay disputes, unfair suspensions, algorithmic bias, and discrimination.
- Mandatory social protection provisions, including EPF, SOCSO, health insurance, and retirement benefits, potentially subsidized through a national budget scheme that targets approximately 500,000 gig contributors. This ensures gig workers have financial security during unemployment, illness, or retirement, reducing their economic vulnerability.
All information will be published here following a further official announcement. We appreciate your patience as we finalize this content.
Final Word
Malaysia’s upcoming Gig Workers Bill represents a historic turn toward formalizing protections for gig economy participants. From ride-hailing drivers and delivery riders to digital content creators and freelancers, the legislation pledges to provide legal clarity, income security, and social benefits across diverse gig roles.
The strong industry participation at the July roundtable, coupled with regulatory oversight through SEGiM and multi-stakeholder input, underscores Malaysia’s ambition to establish a comprehensive and globally benchmarked gig economy framework.
