KUALA LUMPUR: The government is committed to ensuring the swift implementation of the Malaysian Gig Economy Commission (SEGiM), after the bill related to the welfare of gig workers is tabled in Parliament in October.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr. Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the matter must be addressed urgently, considering the long-term concerns of the group and not just social protection alone.

Gig workers and self-employed individuals, he said, need continuous training such as upskilling and reskilling to improve their employability.

"The National Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Council has developed several methods and pedagogies for gig workers to pursue TVET courses that not only align with their interests but also meet the labour market demands in Malaysia.

"This is important because we are concerned that as gig workers reach the age of 40 or older, their productivity might decline.

"Therefore, it is crucial to ensure that their families and children are cared for through careers prepared by the programs they participate in," he told reporters after the launch of the International Social Security Association (ISSA) Technical Seminar 2024 today.

Present were Human Resources Minister Steven Sim, his deputy Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Mohamad and ISSA president Datuk Seri Dr Mohammed Azman Aziz Mohammed, who is also the Social Security Organisation (Perkeso) group chief executive officer.

Zahid said the government also plans to offer allowances and free training to gig economy workers, including those in e-hailing and p-hailing.

"We have planned a programme where, in addition to working as gig workers, we aim to provide upskilling and reskilling courses with allowances and free education," he said.

Earlier, in his speech Zahid said as of this month, recent data revealed that 25.1 per cent of Malaysia's workforce (3.15 million out of 12.56 million) is self-employed, including 1.5 million freelancers.

"We have made remarkable progress since 2017. From the humble beginnings of our first self-employed registration on June 2, 2017, Perkeso has now recorded 679,830 self-employed individuals.

"Yet, as we celebrate this achievement, we must also recognise that there is still much work to be done since only 21.58 per cent of self-employed individuals have active Perkeso coverage, with 32.78 per cent (222,876) being gig workers.

"These figures underscore the significant gap in social protection for a substantial portion of our workforce, highlighting the urgent need for expanded coverage and tailored solutions for the gig economy."

Zahid said moving forward, the government aimed to establish clear legal protections and rights for gig workers, providing affordable healthcare and insurance options through a comprehensive social security scheme by Perkeso, which also covers the extension of invalidity benefits and unemployment arising from loss of income.

"Other areas include promoting financial literacy, retirement savings, and offering continuous skills development and training programmes.

"By implementing these measures, we aim to foster sustainable growth, ensure equality in the gig economy, and provide gig workers with essential protections and opportunities for personal and professional growth."

Meanwhile, on the two-day ISSA Technical Seminar, Zahid said it was aimed to elevate awareness of initiatives undertaken by Perkeso and other social security partners in extending protections to the self-employed and gig workers.

Themed Social Security For the Self-Employed and Platform Workers, the event also aimed to foster a comprehensive understanding of the gig economy and collaboratively develop strategies to ensure the well-being and the social security net of all workers in this fast-evolving landscape.

"Our discussions in this ISSA technical seminar have the potential to shape future employment paradigms and social safety nets across the globe."

https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2024/08/1097259/zahid-gig-workers-need-continuous-training-better-employability