Proceedings of the 10th International Conference on New Findings in Humanities and Social Sciences, 2024
Year: 2024
DOI:
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Improving Labor Rights and Social Security Protection Through Recategorization of Gig Workers: Legal Analysis
Siti Suraya Abd Razak, Harlida Abdul Wahab
ABSTRACT:
The rise of digital labour platforms has been among the most significant changes in the world of work, a change that has transformed the global employment landscape. Digital platform work refers to work on web-based platforms and location-based apps. Although characterized by greater volatility and uncertainty, it is agreed that digital platform work is an attractive alternative to unemployment and offers flexibility to people in generating income. This current trend has certainly attracted, predominantly, gig workers. The growing population of gig workers, along with digital labour platforms that are expected to stay permanently have created both opportunities and challenges for the traditional workforce. Their employment status is often ambiguous. Workplace protections and entitlements are entirely denied. The objectives of this study are two-fold, firstly to review the rights and protection for gig workers working on digital platforms and secondly, to make recommendations to improve the rights and protection for gig workers working on digital platforms. This is socio-legal research where the qualitative method is employed through content analysis of secondary sources and the result is analysed through thematic analysis method. Comparative analysis of legal framework in Canada and Malaysia is also employed to reach the objectives. Findings show that the existing laws in Malaysia do not accommodate gig workers in digital platform work. The findings of this study extend the discussion on labour law protections and support decent work and economic growth as aspired through the Sustainable Development Goals.
keywords: gig worker; labor rights; social security; digital platform; platform worker