KUALA LUMPUR – Although a handful of p-hailing riders are participating in a “blackout” today to demand better fares, Grab Malaysia has already revised its slew of benefits, including the revenue and incentive structure.
One p-hailing rider, 35-year-old Mohd Hakimi Ahmad, has urged his fellow riders to think long and hard before participating in today’s strike.
“Regarding the fare, there is no denying that there are riders who are frustrated. But Grab is providing a basic weekly fee for peak hour deliveries and this allows riders to catch up or reach their earning targets.
“So you can’t blame Grab. If the basic fare is less than RM4, they (riders) need to be more diligent and look at the market areas that are in high demand,” Hakimi said when contacted yesterday.
“Also, not everyone agrees to protest or strike, there’s a lot to think about. So it’s advised for fellow riders to look into this week or two first, work hard, and make an income comparison before and after restructuring. See if there is an increase or decrease in income.”
Meanwhile, Amar Firdaus Adnan, the secretary of the Association of Malaysian Delivery Partners, said it is important to continue engaging with Grab Malaysia’s management to air any grouses.
He said some riders had called for Grab to reconsider the basic fare, highlighting the financial commitments of many riders who have loans for motorcycles and gadgets to assist their work.
“This is because there are many riders who take out loans for the purchase of motorcycles and gadgets, so they are bound by the income that will be deducted every month.”
Grab Malaysia recently restructured its payment and bonus framework, aiming to provide fair compensation for delivery riders and p-hailing drivers, especially for orders that demand more time and effort.
The company said in a statement that the new revenue structure, effective on Tuesday (January 16), particularly benefits the most active delivery partners.
With the restructuring, deliveries that require more time and effort would be awarded fairer compensation.
While base fares have been revised, incentives have been increased for peak-hour deliveries, remote pick-ups, and additional waiting time during pick-ups.
The changes were done after receiving feedback over the last few months from p-hailing partners, with the additional amount from the fare going towards giving them higher incentives – such as bonuses for distant pickups, long wait times and peak-hour deliveries.
As of the first quarter of 2023, 97% of Grab’s p-hailing partners across Southeast Asia earned above the minimum wage benchmarks in their respective countries.
Despite these adjustments, some Grab riders have expressed dissatisfaction and encouraged others to boycott the company.
Posters distributed yesterday called for a strike at seven locations in the Klang Valley, with riders gathering at Grab’s headquarters in Petaling Jaya today.
However, it is understood that those who will participate in the strike are mostly part-time p-hailing riders who are not necessarily active on the Grab platform. – January 19, 2024