General : Gig Workers Tribunal Rules On Three Disputes Involving Grabcar - KESUMA

PUTRAJAYA, Nov 7 — The Gig Workers Tribunal (TPG) has ruled on three disputes involving e-hailing drivers and GrabCar Sdn Bhd, awarding RM2,000 in compensation to one driver and upholding the deactivation of another due to misconduct involving passengers. The Human Resources Ministry (Kesuma) explained that the tribunal heard financial claims, digital platform system issues, and a driver's account deactivation.

The first ruling partially upheld a driver's claim for earnings from Saver bookings and the 'Cashback and Advance Booking' incentive, awarding RM2,000 with interest. The TPG found GrabCar's use of 'Auto Accept' and 'Fast Cancel' mechanisms to violate the Gig Workers Act 2025 (Act 872), which safeguards gig workers' right to know the service type and agreed payment before accepting a job.

The second case involved seven non-financial claims over how GrabCar managed its digital platform, including temporary booking pauses, cancellation quotas, and the 'Auto Accept' system. The tribunal found three breaches of Act 872, recommending drivers be informed of the service type and earnings before accepting a booking and given a reasonable cancel window.

In the third case, the tribunal upheld GrabCar's decision to permanently deactivate a driver's account after discovering three incidents of misconduct towards passengers, including inappropriate conversations and intimidation. While account deactivation may impact livelihood, the tribunal prioritized passenger safety, dismissing the driver's claim.

Kesuma highlighted the TPG's balanced approach, emphasizing the importance of upholding gig workers' rights, ensuring passenger safety, and protecting e-hailing platform operators' interests.