Precarity And Protection: Addressing Working Conditions On Digital Labor Platforms In Malaysia

Abstract

The rise of digital labor platforms in Malaysia has redefined the nature of work, offering flexible income opportunities while simultaneously presenting new challenges to decent work standards. This article examines the working conditions of platform workers; particularly those engaged in location-based services such as ride-hailing, food delivery, domestic care, and other on-demand tasks. Drawing from recent empirical studies, policy documents, and interviews with platform workers, this paper highlights the structural vulnerabilities inherent in algorithmically managed work, including job security, unpaid compensation and administrative burden and high risk of safety and well-being. The paper further analyzes the regulatory gaps in Malaysia’s current labor framework that contribute to the precarious status of platform workers, who often fall outside traditional definitions of employment. In response to these challenges, the article explores strategies strategies and reforms to improve the structure and operation of digital labour platforms in Malaysia.  By critically engaging with both the issues and potential reforms, this study aims to contribute to the discourse on fair work in the digital economy and propose actionable recommendations for policymakers, platform operators, and labor advocates. The article concludes by emphasizing the urgent need for an adaptive legal framework that safeguards the rights and welfare of digital platform workers in Malaysia’s evolving labour market.