A RM160 million package for gig workers under Budget 2027 has been welcomed as a step towards improving riders’ earnings and welfare, although its impact will ultimately depend on how effectively the measures are delivered.
Malaysian Delivery Partners Unity Association (PPRPM) adviser Bryan Ng Yiih Min said the package, to be jointly funded by the government and Grab from 2027, addressed several concerns faced by delivery partners, including operating costs, insurance and social protection.
He said the benefits should be measured by the difference they made to workers’ daily lives, particularly their take-home pay after expenses and their ability to protect their families and save for retirement.
“For delivery partners, what matters is how much income remains after covering work-related expenses, whether their families are protected when accidents happen, and whether they have the opportunity to build a more secure future,” he said in a statement today.
The package includes measures to raise minimum earnings, provide assistance for vehicle maintenance, cover insurance and support contributions to the Social Security Organisation (Socso).
Under the initiative, p-hailing riders could see their net monthly earnings increase by up to RM100, while e-hailing drivers earning at the median income level could receive an increase of up to RM227 a month.
Ng said the measures would help ease the financial pressures faced by gig workers, whose earnings can fluctuate while fuel, vehicle maintenance and other work-related expenses eat into their income.
He also welcomed incentives for Socso contributions, with the matching rate set at 35% and rising to 50% if platform companies contribute as well.
The continuation of the Employees Provident Fund’s (EPF) i-Saraan Plus scheme, which offers matching contributions of up to RM600 a year subject to a lifetime limit of RM6,000, would also help gig workers build their retirement savings.
“Riders face risks every time they go out to earn a living. Social protection and retirement savings give them and their families a stronger measure of financial security,” he said.
Ng also welcomed RM270 million in financing facilities through Bank Simpanan Nasional (BSN) and Agrobank for gig workers seeking to start businesses or purchase their first homes.
He said access to financing could give workers an opportunity to improve their financial circumstances, but cautioned that the application process and eligibility requirements must take into account the irregular income associated with gig work.
Clear conditions and a straightforward application process would be crucial to ensuring the intended beneficiaries could access the facilities, he added.
PPRPM was prepared to work with the government, relevant agencies and platform operators to disseminate information, assist with registration and relay feedback from delivery partners to improve implementation, Ng said.
He said the combination of income support, assistance with operating costs, social protection, retirement savings and financing could help provide gig workers with greater financial security over the longer term.
Ng thanked Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and the Madani government for their commitment to the welfare of delivery partners.
“Riders keep the economy moving every day. They deserve decent earnings, adequate protection and the opportunity to build a better future,” he said. - October 12, 2026