Everything About Grab’s Additional 32-Cent-Per-Trip Platform Fee That Even Involves the Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore

If you have an account with Grab and you happened to be browsing through your email yesterday, you might’ve come across this email from Grab:

In case you can’t read, Grab is basically notifying you that they are introducing a S$0.32 platform fee to all Grab rides.

So if your ride from Jurong West to Jurong East is $6, you’ll have to pay $6.32 if they introduce this platform fee in the future.

What Will The Money Be Used For?

People in Singapore are willing to pay extra, as long as you know what it’s going to be used for, right?

If it’s to line the directors’ pockets, you’ll probably switch to TADA faster than they can say, TADAH, zero commission.

But, if you know that the money is ultimately going to drivers? That’s a different story, and that’s probably what Grab is banging on when they break down how the money will be used:

According to the email by Grab, the extra money will go towards three areas:

• Cost of operations
• Improvements
• Driver welfare

Features that will benefit from this platform fee includes security features like fraud prevention and safety features like number masking, GrabProtect, so on and so forth.

They also promise that they will double the Personal Accident Insurance Benefits for both the rider and the driver.

In addition, for every 32 cents, 1/3 (approximately 1.06 cents) will go to Grab drivers in terms of benefits, scholarships, training and insurance.

In short, the directors’ pockets will be lined (because happy drivers = more drivers = better business).

But only after many people’s lives in Grab is improved. Hopefully.

“Notice of Public Consultation”

In the email, Grab has also said that they have submitted an application for the proposed platform fee to the Competition & Consumer Commission of Singapore (CCCS).

And they used the term: Notice of Public Consultation.

Basically, what this means is that CCCS is now looking for feedback from the public on the application made by Grab.

Click into the tab on CCCS’s website and you’ll be brought to a section with all the details regarding the application.

So if you don’t agree with the move by Grab and you’re hoping that this won’t be implemented / or you want this to be implemented, here’s your chance to be heard.

CCCS is looking for feedback in two areas:

• Should the platform fee be implemented?
• Are there any other factors that CCCS should take note of?

You can email your feedback to [email protected] after reading through the details in their website.

Feedback must be sent by 11 Aug 2020 at 5pm.

You’re welcome~

In the meantime, you might want to watch this rather important video about being a private-hire driver in Singapore (and also subscribe to our YouTube channel, please?):