KUALA LUMPUR: Gig industry players should be included in the discussions regarding the establishment of the Gig Workers Commission, says a group representing e-hailing and p-hailing drivers and riders.
Malaysian e-Hailing Alliance chief activist Jose Rizal said the involvement of industry players as key stakeholders is crucial to ensure that the commission's goals or objectives are on target.
"We welcome the establishment of the Gig Workers Commission. We hope it can act as a body to protect gig workers, especially those in e-hailing and p-hailing.
"We hope it can be established promptly and be able to initiate regulatory and legal framework work to safeguard the welfare and provide new hope to e-hailing and p-hailing workers.
"We request that stakeholders in the e-hailing and p-hailing industry, especially NGOs fighting for the welfare of the stakeholders, be involved in the commission, whether in policy discussions, consultations, or input, to ensure that the commission's goals or objectives are on target," he said.
This comes after Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today urged for the swift establishment of the commission to champion the interests of workers in this sector.
Anwar said establishing this commission is crucial to provide greater attention and concern for workers in the relevant sectors.
The establishment was announced by Anwar himself in his closing speech at the Bumiputera Economic Congress (KEB) in Putrajaya.
On March 13, Human Resources Minister Steven Sim Chee Keong announced that his ministry, in collaboration with the University of Malaya (UM), is currently conducting a study to facilitate the establishment of the Gig Workers Commission.
He said an interim study report would be presented to the Cabinet within the next three months.
Jose added that the commission would enable e-hailing and p-hailing workers to be protected in policy or in law, allowing them to grow to earn income, whether part-time or full-time.
"Although the industry is dynamic, we believe that the existence of this commission can be beneficial.
"We are grateful to the Madani government for always caring for gig workers until today," he said.
The aim of forming the commission is to protect the rights of 1.12 million gig workers. It will focus on meeting social needs, resolving contract disputes, and promoting the career advancement of the group.
