Legal experts push standardized contracts protecting ride-hailing drivers
The Worker Counseling and Support Center (under the HCMC Labor Union) and the HCMC Social Security yesterday co-organized a seminar, titled “Welfare for ride-hailing drivers – situation and solutions,” to discuss welfare policies for these drivers. Ride-hailing drivers demand transparent fare mechanisms from platform
Numerous ride-hailing drivers have expressed their desire for standardized contracts that protect their welfare and rights. The Worker Counseling and Support Center, along with the HCMC Social Security, recently organized a seminar to discuss welfare policies for these drivers. Many drivers at the seminar pointed out the immense pressure they face regarding income, long working hours, and high vehicle operation costs, despite being referred to as "partners" by the platforms.
They strongly desire appropriate welfare policies, including mandatory social insurance, as well as support for their vehicles and green transition expenses.
One of the drivers, Le Thi Tuyet Hoa, who is nearly 8 months pregnant, shared her experience of working 10 to 12 hours daily for eight years without being allowed to participate in mandatory social insurance. She hopes that ride-hailing drivers will soon be enrolled in mandatory social insurance to secure a safety net for sickness, maternity, and their retirement years.
On the corporate side, Be Group reported their three-tier welfare framework, which guarantees livelihoods, boosts autonomous capacity, and provides long-term protection for driver partners. The company covers 100% of accident insurance for its top 10,000 partners over a five-year period. However, they argue that authorities must consider the unique characteristics of platform-based gig labor when mandating social insurance.
According to a targeted survey of 141 ride-hailing drivers, 93.6% view it as their primary occupation, while 73.8% have previously encountered severe accidents, and over 65% have faced scams, robbery, or harassment while working. Currently, roughly 73.4% rely on household health insurance or labor union support, with many still not participating in any insurance scheme.
Additionally, 92.9% of drivers want a clearer professional and legal status, and 87.9% seek a suitable mechanism to participate in social insurance policies to protect their livelihoods.
Deputy Director Nguyen Quoc Thanh of HCMC Social Security emphasized the need to research the inclusion of gig workers, including ride-hailing drivers, into the mandatory social insurance bracket. This will ensure they have a concrete mechanism to protect their rights when facing unforeseeable risks or reaching retirement age. Immediate attention should be given to conducting comprehensive surveys on the total number of drivers, their operational modalities, real income, and current insurance participation status.
Furthermore, coordination among management agencies, social security bodies, and platform enterprises must be significantly improved to develop policies that accurately reflect the reality of these drivers.
Written by urgent.news from SGGP English Edition Business's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
