The Gig Workers Act 2025 (“GWA 2025”) has come into force on 31 March 2026 as appointed by the Minister of Human Resources (“Minister”)1. As this is a new legislation, the Minister has issued four pieces of subsidiary legislation, which will be discussed in this Alert. The Regulations discussed also came into force on 31 March 2026.
Our article on the salient features of the GWA 2025 (while it was a Parliamentary Bill) can be accessed here.
1.Gig Workers (Compounding of Offences) Regulations 2026 [P.U.(A) 145] (“Compounding Regulations”)
The Compounding Regulations identify seven offences under the GWA 2025 which are compoundable offences and set out the procedures for compounding.
2.Gig Workers (Social Security) Regulations 2026 [P.U.(A) 143] (“Social Security Regulations”)
The GWA 2025 provides that a platform provider shall implement mandatory contribution deduction in the form and manner as may be determined by the Social Security Organization (“SOCSO”). The percentage of the contribution by the gig workers has been set by the Social Security Regulations at 1.25%.
The Social Security Regulations further provide that if the contribution deducted by the platform provider exceeds the minimum rate of contribution based on the selected insured monthly earnings under the Self-Employment Social Security Act 2017, the platform provider shall notify the gig worker to select the amount of the monthly contribution payable to SOCSO, through the digital intermediary system of the platform provider within three days from the date of notification by SOCSO.
3.Gig Workers (Conciliation Proceedings) Regulations 2026 [P.U.(A) 146] (“Conciliation Proceedings Regulations”)
The Conciliation Proceedings Regulations prescribe that a gig worker may file a written complaint of dispute to the Conciliator within 60 days from the date of the dispute or decision of the contracting entity or platform provider, or from the expiry of 30 days from the date the complaint is lodged.
The Conciliation Proceedings Regulations also set out the process of the conciliation proceedings by the Conciliator and by the Minister, respectively which includes the issuance of a notice in writing directing parties to attend the conciliation proceedings, the manner in which the proceedings are to be conducted (whether jointly or separately, and whether in person, by telephone, video conference or electronically), the taking of notes and recording of terms of settlement in writing, and if there is no likelihood of the dispute being settled or where the contracting entity fails to attend two consecutive conciliation proceedings fixed without cause or excuse, the reference of the matter to the Gig Workers Tribunal (“Tribunal”).
The Conciliation Proceedings Regulations further provide for the process where there is a non-compliance of the terms of settlement, and where there is a reference to the Tribunal, the preparation of a conciliation report to be submitted to the Tribunal.
4.Gig Workers (Gig Workers Tribunal) Regulations 2026 [P.U.(A) 144] (“Gig Workers Tribunal Regulations”)
The GWA 2025 also provides that where the Conciliator is satisfied that there is no likelihood of the dispute being settled, or that the terms of settlement recorded are not complied with by any of the parties, the Conciliator shall refer the matter to the Tribunal and the Registrar shall cause the reference to be acknowledged and dated and entered into the Register of Gig Workers Tribunal and serve a notice of hearing in no less than 30 days before the date of hearing.
The Gig Workers Tribunal Regulations also set out the conduct of proceedings before the Tribunal, including the manner in which the hearing is to be conducted (physically or through remote communication technology), the taking of notes of evidence and keeping of records of proceedings by the Registrar, the right of parties to be heard and represented, preparation of a written statement by the Registrar, the making of the award by the Tribunal, adjournment of hearing, withdrawal of dispute, award for agreed settlement between parties, and the prescribed fee for providing the reasons for award and dismissal of complaint.
What’s Next?
At the press conference on 31 March 2026, the Minister, Datuk Seri Ramanan Ramakrishnan, said that platform providers will be given a three to six-month window to comply with the technical requirements of the GWA 2025.2
It was also announced that the newly established Consultative Council, Malaysian Gig Economy Council (MyGiG), a tripartite platform including the government, gig worker representatives and contracting entity representatives, which will be responsible for advising and making recommendations to the government, will hold its first meeting on 3 April 2026.3
The Ministry of Human Resources also launched an online grievances system for gig workers as the primary platform for receiving complaints, enquiries and feedback from workers on 1 April 2026.4
