KUCHING: Concerned delivery riders want to see the gig economy included in Budget 2023.
Grab rider Khairul Adzhan Hassanuddin, 27, said he has been in this line of work for more than two years.
He noted that during the implementation of Movement Control Order (MCO) when Covid-19 first struck the country, the welfare of the riders was well taken care of, however, things changed in its aftermath.
“The economy is not that good now and the orders we receive are also getting less and lesser, with more delivery riders joining the scene,” he told New Sarawak Tribune.
Khairul hopes the minimum wage for full-time riders will be raised so that they can have a stable income to support themselves.
As for 26-year-old Iylia Zulfadli Affandi, he is relatively new to the gig economy scene with about a year of experience.
“The past two years, I wasn’t actively involved in this scene as I had an office job prior to being a rider.
“Therefore, I wasn’t really sure how the employers took care of the welfare of the riders.
“However, for Budget 2023, I hope employers can look after the welfare of the riders and provide a better working environment for them,” he said.
Previously, a news outlet reported that the Malaysian P-hailing Delivery Riders Association (Penghantar) urged Putrajaya to consider implementing a floor plan on wages to ensure the group of riders will receive a stable income.
The federal Transport Ministry has also mooted plans to amend three Acts to protect the welfare and interest of the riders.
