FROM CRISIS TO RECOVERY: GIG WORKER WELLBEING IN MALAYSIA THROUGH THE LENS OF MAQASID AL-SHARIAH
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33102/6tct6570Keywords:
GIG Economy, Maqasid al-Shariah, COVID-19, worker wellbeing, social protectionAbstract
The COVID-19 pandemic drastically reshaped Malaysia's labour market, accelerating the growth of the GIG economy as millions turned to platform-based work for survival. Despite its rapid expansion, GIG workers in Malaysia remain highly vulnerable, with existing literature largely overlooking Islamic normative perspectives on worker wellbeing. This study employs a qualitative study to examine GIG worker wellbeing across three phases before, during, and after the pandemic through the framework of Maqasid al-Shariah, anchored in the protection of five essential human domains, namely Hifz al-Nafs (life), Hifz al- Din (religion), Hifz al-Mal (wealth), Hifz al-Aql (intellect), Hifz Nasl (lineage/family). It is anticipated that the study will reveal persistent gaps in the safeguarding of these five domains across all three phases, reflecting a systemic failure to protect the holistic wellbeing of GIG workers in Malaysia. Adopting a qualitative, conceptual approach grounded in policy and literature analysis, the study advances five propositions mapping Act 872 against the five Maqasid domains across the three pandemic phases. This article argues that integrating Maqasid al-Shariah into Malaysia's GIG economy governance offers a principled, human- centred, and values-driven framework for meaningful, human-centred reform has never been more urgent.
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