Pekerja gig, warga emas perlu perlindungan sosial lebih baik dalam Belanjawan 2027

The World Bank has suggested expanding social protection to include gig economy workers, possibly through specific forms of government matching mechanisms. Kuala Lumpur: Strengthening Malaysia's social protection system must remain a priority in the 2027 budget, including raising benefit adequacy, widening coverage for gig economy workers, and elevating support for the elderly population, according to the World Bank.

Malaysia's Chief Economist, Apurva Sanghi, said the government has done well in expanding and scaling up social assistance programs, but there is still a gap in benefit adequacy. "Congratulations to the government for expanding and increasing the scale of social assistance programs to great success. However, there is a deficiency issue regarding the benefits that exist," he told a media briefing on the World Bank's Eastern and Pacific Asia Timely Update Report for October 2026.

Sanghi said extending protection to include gig economy workers could be considered, possibly with certain forms of government matching mechanisms. Moreover, he noted that Malaysia is an aging society but social protection still does not adequately cover the elderly population. He added that many elderly people do not receive sufficient support, stating that the social index without a cushion currently covers only around four percent of the population aged 60 and above.

"Therefore, the effort to expand and increase the scale of social protection for the elderly population is something that should be carried out," he said. However, he stressed that this is a proposal made during the briefing and not necessarily something that will be accepted or included in the relevant budget.