Grab now offering up to RM1,000 sign-up bonus amid driver shortage concerns
Grab Malaysia announced that it will be offering a sign-up bonus of up to RM1,000 for new driver-partners.
The scheme which started on June 1 will continue until July 31, 2022. New driver-partners are required to fulfil a minimum number of trips to be eligible for a bonus of up to RM1,000 in addition to existing subsidies that will to help alleviate the cost of ehailing regulatory requirements.
Grab said that it hopes the initiative will attract new driver-partners to meet post-pandemic demands.
“As of mid-May this year, the number of driver-partners on our platform is still less than 70% of what it was pre-pandemic. One of the many reasons is the long and costly process imposed on drivers before they get on the road,” Rashid Shukor, Grab Malaysia director of country operations and mobility.
New drivers are required to spend up to RM500 to meet regulatory requirements set by the Ministry of Transport in order to acquire a PSV license that will make them eligible to drive any type of vehicle used to transport paying passengers. Some steps include attending six hours of training, passing vehicle inspections and purchasing insurance.
Existing driver-partners can benefit from a referral bonus programme.
Last month, a number of users took to social media to voice concerns over ehailing providers charging higher fees even for short tips. Transport Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong said the surge in ehailing fares are due to a number of factors including shortage in drivers.
“From the discussion, it is clear that there are two main factors that have led to this surge in ehailing fares; a supply-and-demand imbalance and high traffic volume leading to longer travel times,” said Dr Wee in a report after a meeting with ehailing operators.
Grab Malaysia in a statement on May 24 said its “dynamic pricing model” are in place to ensure driver-partners are compensated fairly for their time and effort while also ensuring that passengers will get picked up.
“When there are more people booking a ride than the number of drivers available in an area, fares will ‘surge’ or go up to encourage more drivers to head to where passengers are,” the company said.