Human resources minister V Sivakumar said it was mandatory for gig workers in the e-hailing and p-hailing sectors to contribute to Socso’s self-employment social security scheme.

Sivakumar said 108,237 people had been registered under the scheme, including 45,568 or 42.1% from the e-hailing industry.

He said the Self-Employment Social Security Act 2017 states that workers in these two sectors who fail to contribute to the scheme may be jailed for up to two years or fined RM10,000, or both.

“Through Socso, the human resources ministry will ensure that more self-employed individuals would register (for the scheme),” he said in a written parliamentary reply.

P Prabakaran (PH-Batu) had asked the minister on the number of gig workers who are contributing to the self-employed social security scheme.

It has been compulsory for taxi, e-hailing and bus drivers to contribute to the scheme since June 1, 2017.

In October last year, the Dewan Rakyat approved a bill to make it mandatory for p-hailing riders and self-employed transportation providers to also contribute to the scheme.