BUSINESS

GOVT SHOULD PROVIDE INCLUSIVE SOCIAL PROTECTION, FOCUS ON UPSKILLING GIG WORKERS IN BUDGET 2022 -- MAFA

18/10/2021 11:20 AM

By Karina Imran & Zufazlin Baharuddin

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 18  -- Malaysian  Allied Freelancer Association (MAFA) has urged the government to provide inclusive social protection coverage and focus on the upskilling of gig workers in the upcoming Budget 2022, which will be tabled on Oct 29. 

Its president Nor Azlan Abdul Wahab said the government needs to widen the coverage of the Self-Employment Social Security Scheme (SESSS) as the COVID-19 pandemic has boosted demand for gig economy services.

“The SESSS from Social Security Organisation (SOCSO) is not giving enough protection to gig workers and we need to explore other things that can benefit them,” he told Bernama.

The SESSS was introduced in June 2017 to provide protection against employment injuries, including occupational diseases and accidents during work-related activities.

He said the upskilling of gig workers is much needed to ensure future long-term job assurance.

Echoing the same sentiment, same-day-delivery service firm Borzo suggests the government continues to provide training and alternative support to the gig industry so that courier service providers can add value to the quality of services. 

“From a local perspective, we believe the first step the government can apply is to educate the methods of how the local courier community can benefit and earn more by registering and completing their orders according to their set goals.

“Once the education process has been introduced and implemented in stages, other initiatives offered can be easily instructed and understood by the relevant community," the company, formerly known as MrSpeedy, said.

Homegrown e-hailing company MyCar chief executive officer Mohd Noah Maideen said apart from providing financial assistance to companies and employees in the gig economy, the government could also help local and Bumiputera entrepreneurs in developing applications. 

“For a local company like us, our main problem is related to unstable applications. This has somewhat hampered the development of local companies.

“By helping us build a better app, the transaction will be smoother and easier for users.

“Hence, we can compete with them (company from outside Malaysia) in a healthy way,” he said, adding that the government should relook at the licensing of e-hailing companies. 

Mohd Noah said the influx of e-hailing industry players in Malaysia definitely would give rise to uncertainties in the market and an inconsistent fee offering to consumers. 

Gig worker Nur Aida Sabrina Mohammad Sarbini, a carer at Kiddocare, hopes that the government recognises the gig profession formally and introduces facilities such as Employees Provident Fund (EPF) contribution.

“Gig workers like us have no retirement security and if the government can consider this matter, it would be good to build our savings,” she said.

-- BERNAMA

 


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