Grab launches program to increase income opportunities for women

Grab launches the Grab Female Driver Partner Program to support women in Vietnam to improve their income opportunities as driver partners.

The program is designed to reduce barriers for women in accessing income opportunities, and is part of a roadmap to promote gender equality through economic empowerment for all.

According to Mr. Alejandro Osorio, Managing Director of Grab Vietnam, Grab is focusing on supporting the driver-partner community, including female drivers. Women currently make up more than half of the population in Southeast Asia, but only account for 42% of the workforce and are a minority in Grab's driver-partner community across the region.

As a result, Grab’s business model offers female drivers the option of flexible work, allowing them to earn more while balancing their personal interests or other responsibilities. In the Vietnamese market alone, the proportion of female driver-partners joining the platform increased by more than 49% between January 2023 and January 2024. However, women are still facing many difficulties in grasping that income opportunity.

"The Grab Female Driver Partner Program was created to create conditions for women to become technology drivers in the future, helping to ensure their income on the Grab platform," said Mr. Alejandro Osorio, CEO of Grab Vietnam.

Female driver partners participate in the March 8 event organized by Grab. Photo: Phat Lam — Female driver partners participate in the March 8 event organized by Grab. Photo: *Phat Lam*

Based on surveys and discussions conducted with Grab’s female driver-partners, many women are hesitant to join the platform due to the perception that driving and delivery are not suitable for women and a general lack of confidence. Common concerns include having to meet different passengers, lacking the necessary technological knowledge to use the driver app well, and the ability to handle unexpected situations such as vehicle breakdowns.

To support women in overcoming these barriers, the Grab Female Driver Partner Program will implement specialized training content and diversify community activities.

Specifically, specialized training content includes topics to help female drivers solve common problems such as vehicle maintenance, self-defense skills, etc. Most of the programs are available on the Grab Driver application for driver partners in a concise form, making it easy for new female driver partners to access. The program is expected to be launched in Vietnam in the near future.

In addition, Grab will support the establishment of female driver partner communities so that new partners, as well as long-term female partners, can connect, share and support each other. Because they often have to travel on the road, online support channels in the community via Facebook, Zalo... will help female driver partners to communicate and support each other more often.

In particular, in the Grab Female Driver Partner Program, Grab is testing the "Prioritize receiving female passengers" feature on the Grab Driver app from March 5 for GrabBike and GrabCar services nationwide. When this feature is enabled, the Grab app will understand that female driver partners want to carry female passengers. At the same time, the app will help them increase their chances of receiving rides from female passengers, if there are female passengers booking a ride nearby.

This is also the latest feature in a series of technological improvements on safety issues that Grab has invested in recently to ensure the safety of users and partners when traveling on the road.

Grab regularly organizes events to share knowledge and connect the female driver community. Photo: Phat Lam — Grab regularly organizes events to share knowledge and connect the female driver community. Photo: *Phat Lam*

In addition, bonding activities are also organized for drivers to connect and strengthen their relationships. On the occasion of International Women's Day, March 8, Grab Vietnam will organize a series of bonding events for female driver partners and female merchant partners nationwide.

The event "Sending thousands of love, giving extraordinary 'beauties'" will take place on March 6 in Ho Chi Minh City and the same day in Hanoi. The program offers activities such as nail care, hand massage, neck and shoulder massage, games, lucky draws...

At the same time, Grab will present more than 300 PTI health insurance packages to female driver partners in difficult circumstances, and partners with positive performance records nationwide, helping them feel more secure in their driving and better protect them in the future.

The photo contest "Women at Grab - We can!" took place nationwide from February 29 to March 22 with more than 50 prizes for driver partners and store partners with impressive entries about female Grab drivers.

Thao Van

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