Starting to work as a driver for Grab from 2019, Mr. Khuu Thanh Tam (a member of the Binh Tan Technology Motorbike Taxi Union, Ho Chi Minh City) recounted that in a late-night driving accident, he broke his right leg and had to be treated at the hospital for 3 months.
When he had an accident, he informed Grab and Grab informed the insurance company where he bought the accident insurance, and the insurance company paid the invoiced amounts, and he had to take care of the non-invoiced amount himself. After a period of treatment at the hospital, he spent more than 2 months practicing at home to recover his health.
At that time, I was very tired because I was paying in installments to buy a car, and I had no income from driving, while I had to spend a part of the money on medical expenses, life was extremely difficult. Luckily, there were brothers in the union who contributed to support a little money to live and support the family," Mr. Tam shared.
Several times going for medical examination and treatment later, thanks to the Binh Tan Technology Motorbike Taxi Union giving him a health insurance card, Mr. Tam only had to pay a little money.
If now I am willing to participate in compulsory social insurance and health insurance to receive sickness and occupational accident benefits and have a pension when I get old," Mr. Tam said.
Similarly, Ms. Le Thanh Nha Truc - also a member of the Binh Tan Technology Motorbike Taxi Union - said that she has cooperated with Grab to drive technology cars since 2019. Ms. Nha shared that before that she used to work for a business, but because she had a young child of school age and a child with autism, she switched to driving technology cars to have time to proactively take care of her child.
Once in a car accident, her ligaments broke, she had to quit driving for 5 months and the insurance company where Grab bought accident insurance paid for treatment costs. However, due to lack of social insurance, she did not receive sick benefits like workers in other fields, so during the time she had to quit driving, the life of her and her 3 children was very difficult, luckily there were union members contributing to support.
I really want to participate in social insurance to have money for sickness benefits, labor accident benefits and pensions when I get old, but Grab has never brought this issue up for discussion. If the State stipulates that technology platform businesses are required to participate in social insurance for their partners, I am also willing to deduct a portion of my income to participate," Ms. Truc said.
Mr. Le Tan Luu - Chairman of Binh Tan Technology Motorbike Taxi Union said that currently the union has more than 1,000 union members operating on technology application platforms such as Grab, Be... and all are not participating in compulsory social insurance and health insurance like workers in other industries and fields. Surveys show that most union members want to participate in compulsory social insurance like workers in other types of labor to enjoy benefits such as sickness, occupational accidents, pensions...
However, some businesses providing technology application platforms all identify the relationship between businesses and drivers as a business cooperation relationship under a partnership model and drivers are not employees under labor contracts with businesses. Therefore, there is currently no legal basis for businesses to fulfill social security obligations to partners, such as participating in compulsory social insurance, health insurance or other welfare regimes for employees.
According to Mr. Luu, compulsory social insurance participation does not necessarily require labor relations, similar regulations apply to business households from July 1, 2026. This social insurance expense will be included in the service price for customers to pay without affecting business profits. Therefore, if the regulation requiring foundation businesses to participate in compulsory social insurance for drivers is a core solution for drivers to enjoy social security policies.
