KUALA LUMPUR – Ride-hailing platform Indrive has welcomed the newly passed Gig Workers Bill 2025 but cautioned the government against over-regulating the sector, saying it could strip away the very flexibility that makes gig work attractive.
Indrive country representative Govin Kumar said while the legislation was a step forward for Malaysia’s 1.2 million gig workers, its success would hinge on careful implementation.
“Regulation is good, but over-regulation means it could either stop new players from entering the market, or even discourage workers from joining because they feel burdened with red tape,” said recently on the Scoop Insight podcast.
He said this during the recent Scoop Insight podcast with Scoop editor in chief Terence Fernandez and news editor A. Azim Idris.
The Dewan Negara approved the Gig Workers Bill on September 9, following its passage in the Dewan Rakyat last month. The Human Resources Ministry hailed the move as a landmark, positioning Malaysia as a benchmark for Asean in legislating protections for gig workers.
Key provisions include the creation of a Gig Workers Tribunal for dispute resolution, a Consultative Council to address issues such as pay rates and contracts, and enhanced social security through Perkeso contributions.
Govin said Indrive supported the principle of greater protection and recognition for gig workers, but stressed that execution had to be phased and accompanied by constant dialogue with stakeholders.
Indrive’s communications manager for Southeast Asia, Shaerine Kaur, echoed the concern. She said while the bill was progressive, its finer details had left some gaps and raised questions among industry players.
“We were consulted about two or three times in open dialogue sessions, but never in one-on-one conversations,” she said.
“Moving forward, we hope there will be more constant engagement, including closed-door discussions or surveys, to capture the feedback of all stakeholders.”
She also noted that the implementation phase is very crucial in the gig economy bill.
“Why do people become gig workers? Because of the flexibility and the freedom. We cannot over-regulate this industry. We will lose this essence because if you over-regulate it, where is the fine line between a full-time employee and a gig worker?”
Both Govin and Shaerine agreed that measures such as a tribunal and tripartite council were positive in concept but cautioned that their effectiveness would depend on efficiency.
“This bill will ultimately be measured by the tangible results it delivers to gig workers.”
“If a driver’s case takes a year to be heard, then something is wrong,” Govin said.
The pair noted that Malaysia had adopted a hybrid approach to the legislation, balancing protections with the preservation of gig workers’ freelance status. They urged authorities to ensure that the promised safeguards translated into real improvements in income security and sustainability.
“We hope that this actually improves the lives of gig workers, rather than having the opposite effect where it harms their income and sustainability.”
We genuinely believe that with this new law and its implementation, it can significantly progress the industry,” Shaerine said. – September 13, 2025