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    Senator urges amendments to Gig Workers Bill 2025 to include mandatory EPF contributions

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    By Dayak Daily Team,Editor KB

    Copyright dayakdaily

    Senator urges amendments to Gig Workers Bill 2025 to include mandatory EPF contributions

    By DayakDaily Team

    KUCHING, Sept 10: Senator Robert Lau has called on the federal government to amend the newly passed Gig Workers Bill 2025 to include mandatory Employees Provident Fund (EPF) contributions, stressing that retirement savings are critical for Malaysia’s growing gig workforce.

    While acknowledging that the Bill rightly provides Social Security Organisation (Socso) coverage, Lau said it fails to address long-term financial protection for gig workers through retirement savings, a gap he described as a “significant oversight”.

    “As we are all aware, the rate of savings in the country is alarmingly low, particularly among young Malaysians, many of whom have no savings at all.

    “For this group, EPF contributions could be the most practical and accessible means of building a financial safety net, even if it begins with just a few ringgit each month,” he raised this critical issue in a statement today.

    He also questioned why the Madani government recently introduced EPF contributions for foreign workers but did not extend the same safeguard to local gig workers.

    Lau noted that the Bill’s scope extends beyond food delivery riders, covering workers in creative sectors such as artists, actors, journalists, and caregivers. These groups, he argued, are equally deserving of access to retirement savings schemes.

    “By including Socso but excluding EPF, the Bill appears to prioritise protection from accidents over long-term savings.

    “But why should we choose one over the other? Both are essential components of a comprehensive social safety net,” he said, pointing out that many creative workers face low accident risks but remain vulnerable to financial insecurity.

    Urging lawmakers to consider amending the Bill to include mandatory EPF contributions, he stressed that the inclusion would reflect a more holistic approach to protecting and empowering gig workers in Malaysia.

    The Gig Workers Bill 2025 was passed by a majority voice vote after being debated by 18 Senators in the Dewan Negara on Tuesday (Sept 9).

    It is expected to benefit more than 1.2 million gig workers, marking the first time this sector is formally covered under labour legislation in Malaysia. — DayakDaily

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