On the morning of September 14, a large number of Gojek drivers, both motorcyclists and motorists, gathered at the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Justice to submit their criminal record profiles for switching to other ride-hailing companies.
According to the Department of Justice, there has been a significant increase in the number of ride-hailing drivers applying for criminal records in the past week, with up to 500 applications received from Gojek drivers in a single day.
Accompanying the Gojek drivers in their job search, our reporters at Tien Phong also witnessed the overwhelming influx of applicants at other ride-sharing companies operating in Ho Chi Minh City. On September 13, at the Be app registration point in the Sala urban area (Thu Duc City), hundreds of drivers held their application dossiers, most of them from Gojek.
Anxious and restless while waiting for their names to be called, Mr. Le Ba Anh (52 years old, residing in Thu Duc City, with over 2 years of experience driving for Gojek) shared that the required documents are similar to those of other ride-hailing apps, including citizen identification, driver’s license, criminal record profile, vehicle registration, compulsory civil liability insurance for the vehicle, a SIM card registered under the driver’s name, and a health examination with a urine test for four types of drugs.
“The health examination, including the drug test, must be completed within 30 days from the app activation. New driver registration does not require a deposit, but one needs to spend VND 450,000 on uniforms and a helmet,” Mr. Anh added. According to him, compared to the first half of 2024, there has been a recent decrease in the number of customers booking rides through Gojek. Some drivers have proactively registered with other apps, so Gojek’s announcement of its cessation of operations did not come as a surprise.
Another applicant for Be, Mr. Lam Minh Khanh (from District 4), shared: “I arrived at 9:30 AM, but there were no more numbers left, so I had to wait until the afternoon. Although there is a large number of applicants, the procedures are quite simple. I just hope I won’t be rejected due to the overwhelming number of applicants.”
When we contacted the Be hotline for information on new driver registration procedures for Be car, the customer service representative directed us to register online as the office in Thu Duc City was already overloaded.
Be app’s new driver registration point was bustling with people on September 13. Photo: H.H
On September 14, our reporters from Tien Phong visited the new driver registration point for Xanh SM taxi in Binh Tan District (Ho Chi Minh City). At that time, five people were waiting to complete the necessary procedures.
Costly and Uncertain Transition
At the Grab driver recruitment point on Ly Thuong Kiet Street (District 10), we met Mr. Mac Van Tuan (58 years old, from Hoc Mon District). He was still wearing the Gojek uniform but now held the Grab uniform in his hand, having successfully registered as a Grab driver. “Even though I’ve just registered, I’ve already spent VND 830,000 on uniforms and a criminal record profile. After a two-month trial period, I will also have to deposit VND 1 million,” Mr. Tuan said.
He further shared that he had just borrowed VND 1 million (with a daily repayment of VND 20,000) to cover the expenses for the job application process at his new company.
According to the Grab staff in charge of registration procedures at this location, despite the recent surge in the number of drivers applying to join Grab, the company has been accepting all applicants.
At the Xanh SM registration point for motorbikes at Vincom Quang Trung (Go Vap District), hundreds of drivers lined up to get a number. The staff informed that they only accept applications on Mondays and Thursdays due to the high volume of applicants. “Yesterday, we only issued 180 numbers, and those who came later had to wait for another day,” the staff member added.
Fierce Competition
In a sharing with Tien Phong reporters, Mr. D.M.P (from District 6, Ho Chi Minh City) revealed that he has six years of experience driving for ride-hailing companies. In the beginning, when there were only a few such companies, the competition was minimal, and there were plenty of rides, leading to a relatively comfortable life for drivers. However, in the last one to two years, with the emergence of numerous ride-hailing apps and the entry of new passenger transport companies offering attractive promotions for both drivers and passengers, the competition has intensified.
Mr. Minh (25 years old, from Bac Giang province) mentioned that one of his friends registered with Xanh SM back in July but has not started working yet due to a lack of available vehicles. “I just left Gojek and registered with Xanh SM, but even though they have accepted my application, I don’t know when I’ll get a vehicle to drive,” said Mr. Minh.
Many drivers who register as partners with ride-hailing companies do not have social insurance or unemployment benefits. As a result, when they lose their jobs, they are left without any financial support. Mr. Nhan (from Long An province) shared: “I don’t receive any allowances when I’m unemployed. During this period, I can’t register with other apps because everywhere I go, I have to spend millions of dong on uniforms, deposits, etc. If I register temporarily and then switch to another company, I will lose all the fees I paid previously.”
Social Insurance
In a conversation with Tien Phong reporters on the afternoon of September 15, a representative from Grab Vietnam acknowledged the increase in new driver registrations in several provinces and cities in recent days. Grab is implementing various programs to facilitate the onboarding process for new drivers. In Hanoi, for instance, new Grab bike drivers receive a free uniform worth VND 150,000, and they are eligible for a bonus of up to VND 1.4 million…
Mr. Tran Anh Tuan, Deputy Director of the Institute for Research and Application of Innovation and Creativity in Enterprises, pointed out that the transportation market in Vietnam still has a substantial demand. This demand is not limited to passenger transport but also extends to the delivery of goods and supplies. Even with Gojek’s departure, these job opportunities remain, and other companies will either expand their market share or new businesses will emerge.
“The field of ride-hailing provides a constant source of employment for those seeking full-time or part-time work. What deserves attention now is the government’s role in ensuring that these workers are not disadvantaged and that their social welfare is taken care of. In my opinion, a sociological study is necessary to define the future demand for this workforce so that we can devise solutions for monitoring and ensuring social welfare and protecting the rights of workers in this sector,” suggested Mr. Tuan.
According to Lawyer Nguyen Tri Duc, Director of Law Company 360, Ho Chi Minh City Bar Association, based on the Law on Social Insurance 2014, social insurance is a mandatory type of social insurance organized by the State, and both employees and employers must participate. Lawyer Duc stated that since the advent of ride-hailing apps in Vietnam, the issue of social insurance to safeguard the rights of drivers has been raised. However, up to now, this issue remains unresolved as there is no employment contract between the ride-hailing apps and the drivers; instead, there is only a cooperation agreement.
“As freelance drivers do not have an employment contract, they are not subject to mandatory social insurance policies. Therefore, I believe that relevant ministries, sectors, and authorities should study and formulate social insurance policies for this informal workforce,” Lawyer Duc recommended.
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