George Town, June 1, 2023 - Human Resources Minister V. Sivakumar has called for guidelines to be developed to protect the welfare of gig workers in Malaysia, as they are currently not receiving sufficient protection.
"There are an estimated one million gig workers in the country, and we need guidelines to ensure their social security and future are protected," he told reporters after opening the northern region National Human Capital Conference & Exhibition (NHCCE) in Bayan Lepas on June 1.
Sivakumar said the ministry is looking into the matter and will work with relevant stakeholders to develop the guidelines.
He also responded to calls by several higher education councils for the government to protect interns undergoing industrial training, saying they are covered under the existing Employment Act 1955.
"The matter is covered and sufficient under the existing Act," he said, adding that the ministry will continue to look into their concerns.
Earlier, Sivakumar said the two-day conference, which featured talks by over 20 top industry leaders and 50 exhibitors, was an excellent platform for government representatives, academia, industry players, and working professionals in Penang, Perak, Kedah and Perlis to come together to discuss human capital challenges and opportunities in a meaningful way.
"This is our highest annual growth in 22 years, indicating that Malaysia is on a solid path to recovery, despite the global and domestic uncertainties of the past few years.
"As global competition intensifies, countries compete for a finite pool of foreign investments.
"To stand out from our regional peers and appeal to global players, we must continually enhance our business environment.
"A crucial aspect of this endeavor is developing a dynamic, knowledgeable, and highly skilled workforce through talent nurturing," he said.
Sivakumar added that the Human Resources Ministry is dedicated to formulating policies and spearheading initiatives that enable Malaysians to enhance their soft, technical, and future work skills. It would also support industry players in offering their employees greater upskilling and reskilling opportunities.
Also present at the conference were Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow and Human Resources Ministry deputy secretary-general Datuk Norison Ramli.
The conference, organized by Human Resource Development Corporation (HRD Corp), was themed HR 5.0: The Next Evolution in Human Resource Development and was held for the first time in Penang.
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