THE government is in the process of amending the Employment Act 1955 to include gig workers, said Human Resource Deputy Minister Awang Hashim.

“Among the amendments is inserting section 101 (c) to include a definition of workers and employers.

“This amendment will clarify the position of workers in the gig economy,” the Pendang MP told Dewan Rakyat during the question-and-answer session today.

Awang said existing legislature does not define what gig economy workers are.

The current laws define an employee as someone with a contract of service with the employer. Gig workers, however, are self-employed and work on a freelance basis and, as such, are not defined as employees.

The deputy minister was responding to Ahmad Jazlan Yaakub (Machang-BN), who asked about the measures being taken to address social security, fixed salaries and protection for p-hailing service workers.

Awang said that the ministry is currently consulting stakeholders on whether to enact a new law to protect gig workers. – December 2, 2021.