Summary · why it matters
Grab drivers in Vietnam are preparing to stop accepting rides for two days this weekend to protest the ride-hailing platform's commission rate, which drivers see as too high. Some say Grab takes as much as 50% of the fare, and combined with rising fuel prices and vehicle maintenance costs, this has sharply reduced drivers' net income. A group of drivers in Da Nang said on Facebook that the work stoppage aims to make drivers' voices and concerns heard, and called on Grab to adjust its commission rate to better support gig economy workers, set policies transparently, and let drivers take part in discussions about measures that affect their work and earnings. Grab has previously faced complaints about driver income in Indonesia, its largest market in Southeast Asia, where Grab and GoTo Group agreed to cut commissions for two-wheeled ride-hailing services from 20% to 8%, effective July 1, after the Indonesian government set a commission cap to help boost driver earnings. In Vietnam, about 800,000 people drive for ride-hailing platforms, with average take-home income of about 9 million dong a month, or roughly 347 dollars, even though they work about 8 to 13 hours a day, according to state media reports. Meanwhile, Green & Smart Mobility JSC, a major competitor to Grab in Vietnam, uses a different employment model, offering drivers employment contracts, a base salary, sales commissions, bonuses, and social insurance, according to the company's website. The move reflects growing pressure on the ride-hailing platform business model in the region, as drivers' operating costs rise while commission rates, income, and welfare for platform workers draw increasing attention in several Southeast Asian countries.
Grab Holdings Ltd