Understanding The Presence of the Gig Economy in Malaysia

Abstract

In Malaysia, there needs to be more explanation of the gig economy activities found in the literature. It is challenging to comprehend the size and growth of the gig economy in Malaysia due to the difficulty of obtaining accurate measures of revenue generated by digital platforms. This paper aims to address the knowledge gap by employing descriptive analysis of administrative data from the relevant agencies tasked with fostering the digital economy in Malaysia. The findings revealed that between 2016 and 2021, there was a substantial increase in the number of gig workers and digital platforms that provide gig workers with a stable source of income and an additional source of revenue for the Malaysian economy. Physical gig activities dominated the gig economy market compared to digital gig activities. In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic has led to an increase in the number of local digital platforms as a result of the increase in the demand for online services. The government must prioritise the regulation of the gig economy in order to protect gig workers and ensure equitable distribution of the wealth generated by the gig economy.