Singapore-based ride-hailing and delivery superapp. Largest such platform in Southeast Asia, operating in 8 countries. Public company on NASDAQ. Has faced driver protests over pay cuts and working conditions.
In August 2025, Grab Malaysia introduced a feature letting customers request Mandarin-speaking drivers for a higher fare. Critics including the Association of Land Public Transport Transformation said it could lead to discrimination against non-Chinese drivers. Grab halted the trial after government warning.
In May 2025, thousands of Grab drivers in Indonesia staged a 24-hour strike, shutting down services nationwide. Drivers demanded platform commission fees be reduced from 20% to 10%, clearer holiday pay rules, and better safety nets. Raden Igun Wicaksono, chairman of the driver's union Garda Indonesia, stated 'Many of our friends got into accidents on the road, died on the road because they have to chase their income.' Grab's stock price dropped 6.2% in June following the strike. The action demonstrated growing driver discontent with income pressure forcing unsafe working conditions.
In January 2024, 300 Grab delivery riders protested in Malaysia after base fare was cut from RM5 to RM4, with wages dropping from RM7 to around RM3.50. In August 2024, thousands of motorcycle taxi workers struck in Jakarta with Gojek workers. In September 2025, two Grab drivers in Indonesia were killed during nationwide protests, with CEO Anthony Tan visiting the families and providing 2 years of health coverage.
In December 2023, Grab Philippines reduced driver fare rates from P45 to P35 per order and per-kilometer rates from P10 to P7, prompting widespread protests. The National Union of Food Delivery Riders claimed the new fare matrix reduced drivers' income significantly. Drivers alleged that Grab suspended or terminated workers who joined protests against the fare cuts. The National Labor Relations Commission launched an investigation into the alleged illegal terminations. Senator Risa Hontiveros stated 'If the goal of this new fare matrix is to ease the burden of customers, it should not come at the expense of the platform's riders.' Grab denied indiscriminate sanctions, claiming 'proper assessment and due process.'
From March 2020 to March 2022, Indonesia recorded 71 app-based driver protests, with 34 (47.9%) involving Grab drivers - the highest among gig platforms. Protests included mass street demonstrations (26 actions), strikes (22 actions), blockading Grab offices (2 actions), and government hearings (1 action). 58.8% of protests demanded proper payment. Drivers eventually won demands to increase ride-hailing fees and reduce platform charges from above 20% to 15% (though drivers demanded 10%). The protests revealed systematic income pressure forcing drivers to work excessive hours.
Grab workers in Vietnam conducted a series of multi-regional wildcat strikes protesting Grab's unilateral changes to driver pay structures. Workers cited ineffective internal dispute resolution mechanisms and unequal bargaining power. Drivers stated Grab 'shut down the app whenever they want' and judged code of conduct violations without discussion or negotiation. Workers used Facebook to build solidarity and coordinate strikes due to lack of formal organizing channels. The strikes exposed Grab's claim that 'flexible work arrangements empower workers' as contradicted by its heavy-handed, non-negotiable approach to changing compensation.
The Philippine Competition Commission imposed multiple fines on Grab Philippines over the Uber merger: P16 million ($296,741) in October 2018 for failing to maintain operations during review; P11.3 million in Q1 2019, P7.1 million in Q2, and P5.05 million in Q3 for violating pricing commitments; and P16.15 million in December 2019 for continuing violations of price and service quality commitments. Total fines exceeded $39 million. Grab repeatedly violated commitments made to secure merger approval, demonstrating pattern of disregarding regulatory conditions once market dominance was achieved.
In September 2018, Singapore's Competition Commission fined Grab SG$6.4 million (US$4.7 million) and Uber SG$6.6 million (US$4.8 million) for anti-competitive merger. Following the March 2018 acquisition of Uber's Southeast Asia operations, Grab raised prices by 10-15% while its Singapore market share grew to 80%. CCCS Chief Executive Toh Han Li stated 'Mergers that substantially lessen competition are prohibited and CCCS has taken action against the Grab-Uber merger because it removed Grab's closest rival, to the detriment of Singapore drivers and riders.' The merger eliminated the only significant competitor in Singapore's ride-hailing market.