KUALA LUMPUR, Sept. 29 -- Two gig workers who died in the 2023 Elmina plane crash had completely different fates. It hinged on whether they had continued contributing to Social Security Organisation (Socso) coverage.

Today, Malaysia's new law will ensure all gig workers are protected, Human Resources Minister Steven Sim said.

Sim said these two gig workers happened to be on the highway near the Elmina township in Shah Alam when the plane crashed, and both did not survive the tragedy.

"Same accident. Same place. Same time. Two workers from the same gig sector yet two utterly divergent fates because of one crucial difference: social security protection," he said in a speech at the World Social Security Forum 2025 here.

The first gig wor...