Yee Wee Tang, Group Managing Director of Operations at Grab, issued the following statement, in response to the “Joint Statement by 18 Major Labor Unions Across Taiwan”.

We are deeply grateful for the valuable feedback and support expressed for Grab’s entry into Taiwan by the 18 major labor unions. We are encouraged by their forward-looking and pragmatic stance in recognizing that the Taiwanese food delivery industry requires a competitor that has the scale, global technology and operational expertise to ensure that delivery-partners will continue to have sustainable earnings, especially in view of the recent global market consolidation. 

Grab’s mission has always been to create economic empowerment for our delivery-partners and merchants, because we believe that Grab succeeds only when our partners succeed. We are committed to prioritize the livelihoods, well-being, and safety of delivery-partners in Taiwan. If our proposed transaction receives regulatory approval, we are fully aligned with the expectations outlined by the 18 major labour unions, which also reflect the fundamental principles of how Grab works with delivery-partners in all of the markets we operate in.

Grab agrees to and looks forward to implement the four concrete commitments that the unions have requested:

1. We will welcome and onboard all delivery-partners who meet our platform’s safety and professional standards to join the Grab platform, and get access to stable earnings opportunities. 
2. We will comply with Taiwan’s Delivery Service Act and will continuously invest in creating better systems to help delivery-partners earn more productively and sustainably. 
3. We will respect and uphold the right of all delivery-partners to choose the platforms they prefer to work with, and use multiple platforms.
4. We will establish structured and regular engagement channels with local labor unions, and ensure that we listen to the feedback of delivery-partners in different regions and collaborate on solutions for delivery-partners.

These are in addition to the Three Core Local Commitments that Grab has set out on 9 June to be transparent about the principles that guide how we support our delivery- and merchant-partners, ahead of our proposed acquisition of foodpanda Taiwan, which remains subject to regulatory approvals and other closing conditions. 

Our three commitments for delivery-partners in Taiwan address concerns that delivery-partners have around their earnings stability and working conditions. We will ensure Stable Earnings during the transition (including free gear and a dedicated voice hotline that will operate for at least three months to assist delivery-partners through the transition), provide Smart Tools like our technology to reduce waiting times and a 24/7 AI Assistant to maximize on-road efficiency, and maintain a Safety-first environment with in-app features that proactively encourage safe and responsible driving habits.

Furthermore, we look forward to introducing GrabAcademy, our holistic training program, to offer upskilling opportunities that support our partners’ long-term livelihoods and professional growth, whether they choose to stay with Grab or eventually explore career paths outside our platform. 

Grab has spent the last 14 years supporting our delivery-partners and their families’ livelihoods across Southeast Asia, with smarter product features and skills development programs. We look forward to listening and learning on the ground, and becoming a fair and valuable partner to the delivery-partner community in Taiwan over the long term.