MELAKA — E-hailing drivers and delivery riders have welcomed the welfare measures announced under Budget 2027, saying the initiatives will ease operating costs, improve earnings and strengthen social protection for gig workers.

Food delivery rider Mohd Iskandar Demali, 27, said assistance with vehicle maintenance and insurance coverage would help reduce the financial burden of working in the sector.

Having worked full-time around Banda Hilir for the past two years, he said the measures showed the government’s awareness of the challenges faced by gig workers amid rising living costs.

People may think delivery riders earn a good income, but we have to bear various expenses, particularly vehicle maintenance.

“I spend more than eight hours on the road every day delivering food, so my motorcycle needs frequent servicing to ensure my safety and prevent breakdowns,” he told Bernama.

E-hailing driver Sulaiman Ibrahim, 44, welcomed the government’s initiative, which was expected to raise drivers’ median monthly net income by up to RM227.

The single father of three children aged between three and 11 said vehicle-related expenses and daily living costs often took a significant share of his earnings.