Grab Food Cuts Delivery Fees by Nearly Half, Leaving Riders Struggling

Grab Food delivery fees cut by nearly half, leaving riders struggling

October 10

It is learned that food delivery fees (Deli fees) for Grab Food riders in Yangon have been cut by nearly half, starting from around 4:00 PM on October 9.

Grab deducts Deli fees from consumers and merchants, and distributes about 20 percent of that money to riders. Previously, riders received 2,500 kyats per trip, but now they receive only 1,500 kyats, it is learned.

"Previously, if we made about 10 trips a day from dawn to dusk, we earned around 25,000 kyats, and our family's living expenses were manageable. Now that we'll only get 15,000 kyats, it's dropped by nearly half. It's no longer enough to cover our family's living expenses," a rider told MyoTaw.

In Grab's software system, when a phone number is entered, the delivery address number, street name, and route distance are already calculated. However, riders say that when it comes to calculating kilometers for riders, they are not fully credited and reductions are being applied.

"During this period of intense El Niño heat, riders are delivering without sheltering from the sun or rain, and not only are trip fares not being increased, but this kind of cut feels quite unfair. The main thing is that they're cutting shift fees and pressuring us to work on deliveries until 9 PM at night. As for riders, if we get into an accident while delivering orders — whether it's a collision with a car or a motorcycle — don't even mention the office helping to resolve it; they won't even come to check. Even if food items get damaged, there are cases where the rider has to pay compensation," a rider told MyoTaw.

Grab Food riders are those who deliver using their own bicycles and their own motorcycles, and they say that regarding the company's change in order fees, they want to file complaints but don't know who to complain to.

On March 14, 2022, Grab also changed its delivery fee structure, which led to an incident in which riders protested by not going to work in The Central zone, Wai Zayan Tar zone, Thingangyun zone, Hlaing Tharyar zone, and other zones.

MyoTaw News Channel