Grab defends new delivery fee, bonus, amid boycott calls

 

Grab said the revamped earnings framework, which came into effect yesterday, benefitted its most active delivery partners.

PETALING JAYA: Grab has defended its revamped delivery fee and bonus framework amid calls for riders to boycott the ride-hailing and food delivery company.

In a statement, Grab said the revamped earnings framework, which came into effect yesterday, “benefit our most active delivery partners”.

It said this will ensure bookings that require more time and effort would be “more fairly compensated”.

Under the revamped framework, base fares have been reduced while incentives have been increased for peak-hour deliveries, distant pick-ups and extended wait times to pick-up deliveries.

“This is done with reference to our delivery partners’ recent feedback about bookings that involve longer wait times at merchants’ outlets or pick-ups that are further away,” it said.

However, some Grab riders have opposed the new framework and urged others to boycott the company.

Posters urging Grab riders against working this Friday have been circulating on social media.

A member of a Facebook group for riders, Ameruddin Abdul Halim, said he disagreed with the reduced base fares but called for pragmatism.

“Like it or not, we must acknowledge that this is the nature of gig work. There are no contracts, and it isn’t meant to be a long-term career.”

However, another member, Syana Syazana, said it was important for the riders to “fight for their rights”, adding that the reduced fare was inadequate in view of the escalating cost of living and the money spent to maintain vehicles.

Meanwhile, the Malaysian P-Hailing Delivery Riders Association (Penghantar) said they would not participate in the protest.

Its president, Zulhelmi Mansor, said they would remain neutral on this issue.

On Aug 4, 2022, about 100 food delivery riders submitted a memorandum to Grab’s headquarters in Petaling Jaya, complaining about low delivery fares that forced them to work longer hours.

The riders rode to Grab headquarters from 10 Klang Valley rally points as part of the 24-hour “Food Delivery Blackout”. - FMT