Page 16 - Voice and representation of platform driver in VietNam

Figure 5: What is your relationship with the ride-hailing platform company?
Car-drivers Bike-riders
91.36
10 CHAPTER 2: Defining the relationship of platforms and drivers
83.58

40.15 43.21
In our survey, the drivers/riders were asked to rank time workers on platforms is much higher than part-
31.39
the importance of platform companies in determining time ones and that of car-drivers is also higher than
22.22
their income and other working conditions (work bike-riders. Comparing the three biggest ride-hailing
hours, work safety, work security). As shown in Figure platforms – Grab, GoViet and Be – it is interesting
6, the workers found that platform companies play that the economic dependence is highest with GoViet,
a significantly more decisive role in determining their followed by Grab and the lowest with Be – the only
Using platform only,
Business partnership
Employment
income (3.84/5) than other work environments (2.59/5) platform that has registered as a transportation service
relationship
they experience. The economic dependence of full- provider. no relationship
Figure 6: Role of platform companies in determining the income and working conditions of platform drivers and riders
(Ranking of importance 1-5)
Figure 6: Role of platform companies in determining the income and working conditions of platform
*Ranking from the least important of 1 to most important of 5
drivers and riders (Ranking of importance 1-5)
Source: Survey of platform drivers and riders

Income Other working conditions

3.84 3.95 3.96 4.03 3.75 3.76 4.13

3.22 3.14

2.59 2.56 2.69 2.54 2.59 2.76 2.42

Total Full-time Part-time Grab Go Viet Be Bike riders Car drivers

Technological relationship result in temporary suspension of access to the app. The
drivers’ smartphones are also scrutinised by the app.
The supervision of work in the ride-hailing platforms Some drivers reported that they got warning messages
is divided between the platform company and users. from the platform if they download any other apps.
The users’ rating plays an important role in determining
the drivers’ performance, access to order allocation,
and even employment in the platform. A bike-rider Algorithmic management is supposed to be automatic
explained: “If I get a five-star rating for six months and fair. However, the algorithms are designed in such
continuously, I will get many incentives like bonus a way that the number of drivers/riders reaching the
points, better orders. If I get to just below five, the higher rankings and bonus points is under control. The
number of orders drops immediately. In the worst drivers and riders often find the apps prolong the time
case, if a rider raised his voice with the client and the required to reach the incentive target: “I’m supposed
client complains via the app, that rider may risk being to finish 20 trips for a day to get to the bonus point.
removed from the app permanently”. I started working from 6am and I completed 18 trips
by 2pm. But then I did not get any more orders until
6pm. I had to stay alert in the street, waiting for hours.
Although in principle, the drivers/riders have the right Sometimes I became too tired and called it a day before
to reject orders suggested to them via the apps, they I got enough orders for a bonus” – said a bike rider in
are subject to discipline if they do so repeatedly. For Ho Chi Minh City. This situation was fairly common in
instance, three continuous rejections or more than 15 other countries reported Uma Rani, a senior economist
percent of trips rejected in one day by the driver may at the ILO :
35

35 https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/1980967/labour-strikes-against-the-algorithm

Voice and representation of platform drivers in Vietnam