Go-Jek multiplies the benefits for the driver to threaten his rival

SINGAPORE – Indonesian operator Go-Jek will increase the benefits for its drivers in foreign markets, with the aim of increasing the size of its fleet in countries dominated by its regional rival Grab.

On Wednesday, Go-Jek announced the launch of a benefits program for drivers called GoalBetter in Singapore on April 1st. This program includes medical leave insurance, online medical consultation services and fuel rebates.

Regarding the insurance of sick leave, Go-Jek has partnered with the local insurance start-up, Gigacover, offering drivers $ 80 protection ($ 60). ) per day. Drivers pay subsidized fees for the monthly insurance premium, ranging from $ 22.40 to $ 130.80, depending on their age.

With regard to the medical consultation, Go-Jek will partner with the launch of the Singapore Doctor Anywhere telehealth application, in which Go-Jek drivers can consult at a reduced rate video consultations on smartphone with doctors.

Raditya Wibowo, Global Transportation Manager at Go-Jek, told reporters that Go-Jek would introduce such a program in Vietnam and Thailand, to which the company had already joined through local partners, Go-Viet and Get, respectively. In Indonesia, Go-Jek launched a similar program called Swadaya (Self Help) in 2016, offering affordable health insurance and financial planning to drivers.

"We think it's very important to take care of our drivers in all markets," Wibowo said. "In Vietnam and Thailand, we would first do an badysis of what would really help drivers out there."

Go-Jek has focused on its domestic market for years, and then began its regional expansion in 2018, starting with Vietnam, aiming to become the Southeast Asia's super regional app offering various consumer services.

One of the challenges of the regional expansion for Go-Jek is the construction and preservation of the driver network so that it can offer a considerable amount of services. Since Grab acquired Uber Technologies' regional operations last March, most markets in Southeast Asia have been dominated by Grab.

In Singapore, in December, about 45,000 pbadenger cars were registered and Grab controlled more than 80%. Go-Jek refused to reveal the size of its fleet in Singapore, but "we have steadily increased our stock of drivers," said Lien Choong Luen, general manager of Go-Jek Singapore. The benefits program aims to "attract and retain the talents of our driving partners on our platform".

Go-Jek is facing another hurdle in its expansion abroad. In January, the Philippine authorities denied Go-Jek's entry due to foreign ownership restrictions. Earlier this month, the transport regulator in the Philippines rejected Go-Jek's call.

Go-Jek still wants to enter the Philippine market and is looking for potential entries in Malaysia, Myanmar and Cambodia.

Earlier this year, Go-Jek collected about $ 1 billion from Google, JD.com, Tencent Holdings, Mitsubishi Corp. and other investors. The funds raised will be used to "strengthen its presence in its growing regional footprint," the company said in a statement.