Vietnam ride-hailing drivers face low wages and social security gaps

Ride-hailing and delivery drivers in Vietnam are facing significant economic challenges and a lack of social security protections. While the gig economy was originally conceived as a way to earn supplemental income through shared resources, it has increasingly become a full-time occupation for many.

A survey of approximately 400 drivers conducted by Associate Professor Nguyen Duc Loc, Director of the Institute for Social Life Research, indicates high working hours with stagnant income. For motorcycle drivers, the average earnings are approximately 34,600 VND per hour, while car drivers earn about 50,400 VND per hour, figures that do not account for fuel, maintenance, or vehicle depreciation.

At a seminar organized by the Ho Chi Minh City Confederation of Labor and the Ho Chi Minh City Social Insurance agency, a survey of 141 drivers from platforms including Grab, Green SM, and Be revealed that 93.6% consider ride-hailing their primary job. Most drivers work between 8 and 10 hours daily, with over 35% regularly exceeding 10 hours.

There is a significant demand for legal recognition and improved social welfare. Approximately 92.9% of surveyed drivers desire a clearer legal status for their profession, and 87.9% seek mechanisms to participate in social insurance. Currently, a large majority lack coverage, including social insurance, unemployment insurance, and accident insurance.