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ALMOST 870,000 self-employed individuals have registered and are actively contributing under the Self-Employment Social Security Scheme administered by the Social Security Organisation as of 31 December last year, the Dewan Rakyat was told on Thursday.
Deputy Minister of Human Resources Datuk Khairul Firdaus Akbar Khan said that of the 869,913 registered contributors, 299,674 are gig economy workers, including those involved in e-hailing services.
He said the figures reflect growing awareness among the self-employed of the importance of social protection, particularly as Malaysia’s labour market continues to evolve rapidly.
“The rapid pace of digitalisation has reshaped the country’s labour market structure, with more young people and low-income groups choosing flexible or gig-based work as their main source of income,” he said.
Khairul Firdaus was responding to a supplementary question from Datuk Seri Sh Mohmed Puzi Sh Ali (BN–Pekan) on how the government assesses the long-term impact of social protection schemes for gig workers.
He explained that there are significant differences between permanent employees and gig workers, especially in terms of social security coverage, prompting the government to strengthen protection through the Self-Employment Social Security Scheme in line with the Self-Employment Social Security Act 2020.
The scheme provides comprehensive coverage against occupational hazards faced by the self-employed, including work-related illnesses and accidents occurring while travelling in the course of work.
Khairul Firdaus said benefits under the scheme include medical treatment, temporary and permanent disability benefits, dependants’ benefits, funeral management assistance and education loans.
Beyond social protection, he added that the ministry is also providing upskilling and reskilling platforms to ensure gig workers remain resilient and are able to sustain their income over the long term, amid ongoing changes in the employment landscape. - February 5, 2026