LETTERS: The Malaysian eHailing Alliances has requested that the government ensure p-hailing and e-hailing companies contribute to the Social Security Organisation (Socso) and Employees Provident Fund (EPF).
The call should be expanded to ensure gig workers are treated as workers and accorded the same rights and protection under the law.
The gig work concept, as well as other forms of precarious employment practices, are exploitative in nature at its conception.
It is positioned as though gig workers have the flexibility to do different things and not to be tied down by any one employer.
In reality, it has been conceived, practised and expanded to exploit workers and maximise profit.
It can be described as systemic fraud of workers, in particular the poor, marginalised and disadvantaged members of society.
It is not happening in Malaysia alone but is part of a global phenomenon spearheaded by big business.
It has led to widening wealth and income gap globally, where the distance between the haves and have-nots continue to grow.
Fortunately, society is waking up to the neoliberal exploitation that has taken over the global economic order incrementally since the 1980s.
The promise of trickle-down economics, where the economic spoils will flow to all levels of society, is probably the greatest hoax of all time.
In the United Kingdom, a court ruled in one case that Uber drivers must be treated as workers rather then categorised as self-employed.
This is something Malaysia should adopt as a principle to prevent the exploitation of such workers.
Organisations such as the Malaysian eHailing Alliances, and trade unions should take up a concerted position on the matter.
The Human Resources Ministry need not look for a compromise to try and placate such businesses. Instead, look to protect workers who have been exploited for too long.
CALLISTUS ANTONY D'ANGELUS
International labour adviser, Social Protection Contributors' Advisory Association Malaysia
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times