Grab drivers in Vietnam protest high commission rates

Thousands of Grab driver-partners in Vietnam, primarily in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, organized a coordinated protest by turning off their applications on September 12 and 13. The strike is a response to what drivers describe as excessive platform fees and high commission rates that significantly reduce their take-home pay.

Drivers reported that after accounting for Grab’s commissions and various platform fees, their actual earnings often fall below a living wage. Some drivers noted that for trips exceeding 10 kilometers, they receive less than half of the total fare. In some cases, drivers running rented vehicles reported that Grab’s deductions could reach as high as 80-90% of the trip revenue.

Legal experts have raised questions regarding the “partner” classification used by Grab. While the company defines drivers as independent partners rather than employees, legal analysts suggest that if the platform exercises significant control over work conditions, schedules, and disciplinary measures, the relationship may legally constitute an employment contract under Vietnamese labor law.