E-hailing, p-hailing workers welcome insurance cost relief

In Malaysia, the government's RM160 million support package for e-hailing and p-hailing workers, announced in the 2027 Budget, includes vehicle insurance aid that could help drivers and riders cope with increasing premium costs. The Persatuan Rakan Grab Malaysia (PRGM), representing more than 20,000 nationwide members, welcomed this insurance cost relief in a statement, stating it could provide substantial assistance to thousands of e-hailing driver partners.

While PRGM appreciated Grab Malaysia's initiative to offer daily insurance payment choices to ease financial strain, it emphasized that this primarily focused on payment flexibility and did not fully tackle the overall rise in premiums. The association also endorsed other elements of the package, such as higher minimum earnings rates, vehicle maintenance help, Social Security Organisation contributions, and efforts to increase demand for e-hailing services.

However, PRGM stressed that the implementation mechanism should consider differing operating costs based on location, service type, and individual driver requirements to ensure a fair distribution of benefits. The group underlined the importance of cooperation between the government and Grab Malaysia in reducing operational expenses and enhancing net income for drivers and riders.

PRGM pledged to work with Grab partners, Grab Malaysia, and the government, ensuring that ground-level feedback and challenges faced by gig workers are addressed through constructive dialogue. The association expressed optimism about deeper collaboration with Grab Malaysia, particularly on matters directly affecting earnings, operating costs, and the well-being of drivers and riders.

PRGM stressed that the success of any policy depends not only on the allocated funds but on how effectively the benefits are felt by workers striving daily to support their families.