Malaysian tribunal rules on e-hailing driver disputes and safety issues

The Gig Workers Tribunal in Malaysia ruled on three separate disputes between e-hailing drivers and the platform operator GrabCar Sdn Bhd.

The tribunal, led by deputy president Suzarika Sahak, awarded one driver RM2,000 in compensation for financial claims regarding Saver bookings and specific booking incentives. In a second case, the tribunal identified three breaches of the Gig Workers Act 2025 concerning booking pauses, cancellation quotas, and the Auto Accept system.

The tribunal recommended that the company improve its systems to ensure drivers receive clear information about service types and earnings before accepting a trip. In a third case, the tribunal upheld the permanent deactivation of a driver's account. The tribunal found evidence that the driver engaged in three incidents of misconduct, including threatening behavior and inappropriate questions toward passengers.

The human resources ministry stated that the rulings aim to balance the rights of gig workers with the necessity of maintaining passenger safety and protecting the interests of platform operators.