No Safety Net: The Harsh Reality of Gig Work in Brunei

By Malai Hassan Othman

No Job? No Benefits? No Safety Net?

As unemployment rises and job vacancies shrink, thousands of Bruneians - including fresh graduates - are turning to the gig economy just to survive. 

They drive, deliver, freelance, and hustle in a system that thrives on flexibility but offers no protections.

No pension. No health coverage. No job security.

Highly skilled professionals are stuck in low-paying, unstable gigs.

Dart drivers, online sellers, wedding photographers - what happens when the work dries up?

While other countries have stepped up to protect gig workers, Brunei remains silent. How long can this shadow workforce survive before the cracks start to show?

Read the full investigation now. 

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN – Before the sun rises, they check their phones for assignments and set out across Brunei - some on motorcycles delivering meals, others glued to their laptops completing freelance work. 

They are Brunei’s gig workers - a workforce largely invisible, unprotected, and growing.

As unemployment rises and fresh graduates flood the job market with no jobs in sight, many Bruneians are turning to gig work to make ends meet. 

Whether by choice or necessity, they have become part of a shadow economy that keeps the country running but lacks recognition, protection, or financial security.

A Generation Without Guarantees

For 26-year-old Hakim, who graduated two years ago with an engineering degree, the dream of a stable job in a major corporation has faded. 

“I’ve applied to more than 50 jobs. No calls, no interviews. Only rejection emails,” he says. “I can’t sit around and wait.”

Before turning to gig work, Hakim had aspirations of working as an engineer, utilizing his degree to build a stable career. 

However, with limited job opportunities, he now drives for Dart and makes deliveries for GoMamam. 

On a good day, he earns BND 50 to BND 80 - but with fuel, maintenance costs, and commission fees, his take-home pay shrinks significantly. 

“Some days I wonder if it’s worth it,” he says. “But what other choice do we have?”

Hakim is not alone. The youth unemployment rate in Brunei was 9.25% in 2019, with 28.4% of the unemployed being young people. 

A 2023 labor force report estimates that over 82,700 Bruneians are working in the informal economy, a significant portion of whom are gig workers. 

Many are highly educated, struggling to find stable employment in a job market that is not expanding rapidly enough.

A Shift in Work Preferences: Millennials & Gen Z Embrace the Gig Economy

Unlike previous generations, Millennials and Gen Z workers are increasingly drawn to gig work for its flexibility, autonomy, and income potential. 

According to Digital Brunei’s report on the gig economy, young workers prefer multiple income streams over traditional 9-to-5 jobs. 

However, this choice comes with risks - no financial safety net, no structured career progression, and income instability.

At the same time, small businesses and startups in Brunei benefit from gig workers by avoiding long-term hiring commitments. 

Companies like Dotroot and GoMamam rely on freelancers and contract workers to lower operating costs while scaling their businesses. 

This shift means more people are turning to the gig economy but without formal protections or rights.

The Global Market: Bruneian Gig Workers Compete Beyond Borders

While Brunei’s local job market remains limited, gig workers are tapping into global freelancing platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, and Sribuza. 

Many Bruneian digital workers offer services internationally, providing graphic design, content writing, and tech support to clients overseas. 

However, without official recognition as a legitimate workforce, these freelancers struggle to access financial services, business loans, or long-term savings plans.

A Freelancer’s Perspective: The Wedding Photographer’s Struggle

For Zul, a freelance wedding photographer and videographer, the gig economy is both a lifeline and a challenge.

“There are peak seasons when I earn good money—weddings, engagements, big events. But in between, there are long dry spells where I struggle to get clients,” he says.

“Unlike salaried workers, I don’t have a stable income. There’s no pension, no savings plan. Everything depends on me.” 

To manage the financial instability, Zul takes on side jobs in videography, social media content creation, and corporate event photography. 

“I have to diversify my income streams just to survive,” he explains. “I also try to save up from big projects, but without a structured pension plan, I worry about the future.”

Zul also points out the lack of financial support for freelancers, saying, “If I want to upgrade my camera gear, I can’t even apply for a small business loan because I don’t have a fixed income or a registered business.” 

His experience reflects a larger issue in Brunei’s freelance sector, where many workers cannot access financial aid or long-term benefits due to their informal status.

How Other Countries Are Responding

Brunei is not alone in facing this issue. Singapore has announced plans to require gig platforms to contribute to workers' retirement funds by 2024. 

Malaysia has expanded SOCSO protections to gig workers, ensuring they receive injury and health coverage. 

The UK has ruled that gig workers are entitled to minimum wage and paid leave.

While Brunei has yet to introduce comprehensive policies for gig workers, previous discussions around labour market reforms have acknowledged the growing role of freelancing and digital employment. 

However, no concrete policies or protections have been implemented, leaving gig workers in a precarious position.

As the workforce continues to grow, the question is no longer if the government should act but when.

A Call for Change

Many gig workers are not asking for full employment benefits - they know that gig work thrives on flexibility. 

What they do want is basic protections: access to TAP and SCP, health insurance options, and a transparent pay structure that prevents exploitation.

A government official, who requested anonymity, acknowledged the issue, stating, “We recognise that gig workers play an increasing role in Brunei’s economy, and discussions are ongoing on how best to integrate them into the labour protection framework.”

However, no timeline for policy implementation has been set.

“There needs to be a way to make gig work sustainable,” says Hakim. “If this is the future of work, we should not be left behind.”

For now, gig workers continue to hustle, navigating an economy that relies on their labour but fails to acknowledge their worth. 

As more Bruneians enter the gig workforce, the country faces a choice: regulate, protect, and integrate gig workers into the economy - or ignore them until it’s too late. (MHO/02/2025)