Grab to launch new bonus scheme after stopping previous plan due to drivers’ concerns

SINGAPORE – Transport company Grab will be rolling out a new bonus scheme for its ride-hailing drivers from May 18, after it stopped the launch of a previous version in June 2025 because of complaints from full-time drivers that their overall earnings would drop.

But drivers The Straits Times spoke to had mixed reactions to the new scheme, which they learnt about in April via an in-app message. Some are convinced their earnings will take a hit, while others think this may not be the case if certain driving habits are changed.

The new “streaks” cashback scheme will replace the existing special trip bonus scheme, which awards drivers daily bonuses when they complete a certain number of automatically assigned trips.

Under the new scheme, drivers have to book two-hour slots, or “streaks”, and complete two trips per slot to earn a cashback of 5 per cent to 8 per cent. There is a fixed number of time slots.

Additionally, they will get a weekly bundle bonus when they complete a certain number of two-hour time slots and take on two automatically assigned trips in each slot.

Drivers also have to be online for 70 per cent – one hour and 24 minutes – of each “streak”.

Those who complete more “streaks” weekly will receive higher bundle bonuses.

According to Grab’s website, “streaks” are “designed to be easier to achieve” than the existing special trip bonus, given the lower minimum trip requirements for “streaks”.

For the special trip bonus, drivers would typically need to complete seven to 16 trips on weekdays, and 15 to 30 trips on each day of the weekend to qualify.

The previous version of the “streaks” scheme was not implemented after the National Private Hire Vehicles Association (NPHVA) raised concerns over reduced earnings for most full-time drivers as the percentage of monthly bonuses would have been cut for some driver tiers.

Mixed reactions from drivers

Grab briefed drivers about the new scheme in person at its service centre in Tampines and virtually on Zoom.

Mr Hiskandar Zulkarnaen, 44, believes that he will receive lower bonuses if he spends the same amount of time on the road under the “streaks” scheme.

Instead of getting a guaranteed weekly special trip bonus of around $300, like he does now for completing 140 rides, he estimates that he will earn around $180 in bonuses each week in the most optimistic situation, assuming he manages to secure sufficient slots.

Moreover, Mr Hiskandar, a full-time driver of a year, is uncertain if he will be able to get the time slots he wants, adding that it is “not worth it” as he has to take longer drives islandwide to complete “streaks”.

Noting that longer journeys that are automatically assigned will be more tiring, he said the fares will hence be “less worthwhile” in comparison with driving “shifts”.

A “shift”, another scheme on Grab’s platform, refers to a pre-booked two-hour time slot within which drivers get priority allocation of automatically assigned rides within selected geographical zones.

Another driver said many full-time drivers who spend eight hours or more on the road each day could earn lower incentives.

The driver, who is in his late 40s and typically puts in 50 hours of work each week, foresees that he will have to work longer hours – up to twice as long on weekends – just to clock the same amount in bonuses. A full-time driver of six years, he declined to be identified by his full name for fear of being penalised on Grab’s platform,

By his calculations, drivers will have to work at least 52 hours each week to hit the highest tier of 26 “streaks” under the new scheme. And even then, he said the payout of around $280 is “a little lacking”, given the “extraordinary number of hoops” involved in competing with other drivers to book a finite number of slots.

But Ms Tiffany Ang, 50, said the new scheme will immediately benefit some drivers who accept rides when there are fewer other drivers on the road.

Drivers who benefit from doing shifts now might see lower earnings at first, added the private-hire driver of 10 years, but they should adjust their operations to take on a mix of “streaks” slots and “shifts” to “hit the sweet spot for optimal incentives”.

During periods of high demand, Ms Ang said, drivers will earn more from “streaks” given the surge fares. But during off-peak periods, drivers should expect to earn less.

Another driver who wanted to be identified only as Mr Wong thinks that the bonus he could earn from “streaks” is on a par with that of completing “shifts”.

But the 42-year-old’s main gripe with the new system is the possibility that drivers could be assigned long-distance trips to remote areas, which reduce their chances of completing two trips within the two-hour “streaks” slot.

He added that drivers doing “streaks” could earn less in terms of monthly rebates – which they receive from completing different numbers of trips – since they would have to travel longer distances and hence clock a smaller number of trips in total.

But he noted that “streaks” may be suitable for drivers who prefer guaranteed earnings from each “streak” completed.

Mr Raven Lee, executive secretary of NPHVA, said Grab had engaged with the association over several discussions ahead of the roll-out of the upcoming scheme.

After NPHVA raised issues regarding the availability of “streaks” slots and the ability to plan schedules and income with greater certainty, Grab made refinements such as adjusting booking timings and allocation of slots to give drivers more flexibility and reduce idle time between trips, he added.

Mr Lee said NPHVA will continue to monitor the impact of “streaks” after its launch, and surface any issues to Grab, while pressing for improvements on drivers’ behalf.

Grab said on its website that new features in the latest version of “streaks” include more available timings for slots, the ability to book back-to-back “streaks” slots and islandwide coverage for trips.

ST has contacted Grab for comment.