E-hailing drivers are a resilient lot despite challenging working conditions.
Text and Photography By Jan Young
Positivity, according to most definitions, is the practice or tendency to be positive or optimistic in life. “When we are positive, we engage in positive thinking, have positive emotions, and engage in positive behaviors like kindness and generosity.”
One great example I have seen lately is the positive attitude shown by many e-hailing drivers in Malaysia in the face of low fares and less than ideal working conditions such as long hours sitting in the car, challenging traffic and weather conditions and difficult passengers.
From the customer point of view, there is always a focus on getting the lowest fare and there are plenty of complaints about high fares. However, what many consumers do not realise is the daily struggles of all e-hailing drivers.
Most drivers do full time to earn a decent living to feed their family. Yet, they are in a sense oppressed by the system. Caught between the devil and the deep blue sea, they persevere as this is the only viable income source for those who don’t want to or can’t sell or those who can’t get a job in another line. A majority of drivers cited the flexible working hours as a great motivating factor to stay on despite the lack of benefits such as medical, annual leave, social security, or retirement benefits. Essentially, most just need the cash to get by on a daily basis.
What are the hidden costs that many e-hailing companies do not reveal in their bid to attract new drivers? See, e-hailing companies need drivers desperately because without drivers, the customers won’t come. So, in their promotions, they focus on how much the drivers can earn citing figures of up to RM2,000 or more per week.
Sounds good, right? But they forgot to tell drivers that that’s only the gross earnings. The costs drivers have to foot themselves include e-hailing insurance, annual medical checkups, PSV driving license, car maintenance, Puspakom annual inspections, commissions to e-hailing companies, taxes and the biggest cost – petrol – this can amount to more than RM1,000 per month for full-time drivers working 6 days a week of up to 12 hours a day. This does not include repair costs should their cars get into an accident or when their cars break down due to high wear and tear. Their car mileage can go up to 5,000 km or more a month! Imagine the amount of maintenance needed. That’s for those who use their own car. For those who rent cars, they have to pay additionally about RM1,700 per month which may or may not include maintenance expenses.
After all the deductions and hidden costs, the net earnings amount to just an average of RM100 – RM150 a day, which is the average earning of a full-time e-hailing driver in Malaysia. That’s less than RM3,000 a month, making theirs a subsistence income. Imagine if they have families to feed.
Yet, many drivers remain optimistic preferring to focus instead on increasing their earnings per day. This is even though the algorithm of e-hailing apps punishes drivers who decline jobs sometimes with outright bans for a few days if the rate of decline is high.
The plight of e-hailing drivers has so far received little attention from the authorities or even e-hailing companies. According to an article published on https://upstackstudio.com/blog/top-e-hailing-app-malaysia/ , the following scenarios would hopefully unfold to help the people driving this very essential service without whom, consumers would pay a heavier price for convenience.
- Regulatory Intervention
There may be increased calls for government intervention to regulate fare structures and ensure fair compensation leading to the establishment of minimum fare standards across the industry.
- Driver Support Programs
E-hailing companies may implement new support programs such as discounts for fuel and maintenance costs with or without collaboration with third party suppliers such as fuel providers and workshops.
- Technological Innovations
Increased investment in technology such as implementing advanced algorithms for demand prediction and dynamic pricing.
- Consumer Awareness
As awareness of drivers’ struggles grows, consumers may begin to value fair compensation for drivers leading to greater acceptance of moderate fare increases.
#SpreadPositivity #Grab #ehailing #e-hailing #e-hailing drivers #plightdrivers #drivers
*Jan Young is a seasoned globetrotter and former journalist who has explored over 70 countries. With his keen eye for detail and knack for uncovering the extraordinary, Jan has become an expert in navigating the diverse landscapes and cultures of various countries especially in Southeast Asia. Jan has recently published a book on Amazon entitled “Scam-Free Solo Adventures in Southeast Asia: A Savvy Traveler's Guide”. You can check it out here: https://amzn.eu/d/cGvTGyC
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