Minister assures protection for creative sector workers under new law
Malaysia's new Gig Workers Bill will recognise even verbal contracts between employers and their workers, according to reports.
Human Resources Minister Steven Sim said the bill considers oral, expressed, or implied arrangements under a service agreement, Bernama reported.
"While written contracts are the best practice, the bill defines a service agreement as any arrangement, whether written, oral, expressed or implied," he said as quoted by the news outlet.
This means verbal or implied contracts will be recognised during grievance proceedings, including at tribunals.
Sim made the remarks in front of an audience at the National Film Development Corporation Malaysia on Monday, where a special briefing on the bill was held.
He pointed out that a longstanding issue in the creative sector is the prevalence of verbal agreements, which leave workers unprotected during disputes.
"The gig economy isn't limited to new sectors. It includes the creative industry and these workers deserve equal protection," he said as quoted by Bernama.
Malaysia's Gig Workers Bill covers 1.2 million gig workers in the country, recognising them as a separate category in the labour force.
Other protections in the legislation that Sim mentioned include the mandatory compliance of employers when part-time or freelance workers request payslips.
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