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This marks an important step towards strengthening Malaysia's labour legal framework, particularly in regulating the growing gig work ecosystem and providing a more comprehensive and systematic basis for the protection of gig workers across the country.
The Ministry of Human Resources Malaysia (KESUMA) announced last week that the Gig Workers Act 2025 [Act 872] has been officially gazetted, after receiving Royal Assent on 16 December 2025.
According to KESUMA, this marks an important step in the Government's efforts to open a new page in labour reform in Malaysia, aligning with ongoing efforts to strengthen the country's labour legal framework — particularly in regulating the growing gig work ecosystem and providing a more comprehensive and systematic basis for gig worker protection.
In accordance with legal procedures, Act 872 will only come into effect on a date which will be determined by the Minister and formally announced through a subsequent gazette. Until then, the provisions of the Act will not be enforceable.
In the interim, KESUMA said it will continue its preparatory efforts for implementation, including the development of subsidiary regulations, the coordination of governance frameworks, and engagement sessions with key stakeholders. These measures aim to ensure that the implementation of this Act will proceed in an orderly, effective and consistent with the realities and needs of the gig work ecosystem.
KESUMA also stated that any further announcements regarding the effective date of the Gig Workers Act 2025 will be communicated from time to time through the Ministry's official channels.
As a refresher, the Gig Workers Bill 2025 was passed by the Dewan Rakyat in August 2025, and aims to strengthen protection for more than 1.12mn gig workers across sectors such as p-hailing, e-hailing, and digital freelancing in Malaysia.
The key thrusts of the upcoming Act is structured into 10 parts and 112 clauses, centred around four main areas:
- An official definition of ‘gig worker’
- Regulations on income and payment rates
- Dispute resolution mechanisms
- Social protection measures
For more stories on the Gig Workers Act in Malaysia, check out our past coverage here.
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