Bridging the Gap between Malaysian Employment Law and ILO Standards on Gig Workers' Rights
Abstract
The rapid rise of the gig economy has created new challenges in ensuring legal protection for workers. Classifying gig workers as independent contractors often excludes them from traditional employment law protections, especially in jurisdictions like Malaysia, where the laws primarily focus on employees with formal contracts. This research aims to investigate the influence of the International Labour Organization (ILO) standards on gig workers’ rights and to assess how Malaysian employment law aligns with the ILO standards. Although the ILO has not created specific conventions for gig workers, its general labour standards can still be applied to safeguard their rights. For example, the ILO’s Decent Work Declaration offers protections such as fair wages, occupational safety, and social security that can benefit gig workers. This study adopts a qualitative approach, analyzing both legal and non-legal sources. It includes a comprehensive review of ILO instruments, Malaysian employment law, and relevant journal articles and reports, to identify similarities and discrepancies between the legal frameworks. The analysis focuses on the ILO's impact on gig worker protections. This research evaluates the effectiveness of Malaysian law in ensuring protections such as minimum wages, social security, and dispute resolution mechanisms for gig workers, based on their legal status. This study adds to the continuing discussion about the gig economy by fusing state laws with global norms.
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