KUALA LUMPUR: The establishment of a Gig Economy Commission needs to be expedited as a strategic measure to protect approximately three million workers and participants in the sector from global economic uncertainty.
Malaysian Gig Economy Council (MyGiG) Chairman, Datuk Seri Mohd Sharkar Shamsudin, said that the formation of the commission, which has already been approved by the Cabinet, is crucial for managing the gig industry ecosystem, which has now become part of the Malaysian way of life.
“The role of the commission is not merely to coordinate, but also to act as a protector of welfare as well as a coordinator of policies related to the gig economy,” he said in an interview with BERNAMA Radio titled ‘Global Energy Crisis: Malaysia’s Strategy and the Needs of Gig Economy Players’ recently.
Meanwhile, he said that the use of electric vehicles (EVs) is also seen as a long-term strategy that should be seriously considered, in addition to the Budi MADANI RON95 Programme (BUDI95), following the instability of global oil prices.
Sharkar said the government could introduce several initiatives such as special leasing schemes or rebates to enable gig workers to own EVs, as well as provide fast-charging facilities for their use.
“Although there are views encouraging gig economy participants to switch to EVs, the high initial cost and the still-limited charging infrastructure remain the main constraints.
“However, it is a more sustainable strategy as electricity costs are lower compared to petrol, and prices are controlled by the government,” he said. – BERNAMA
