Grab's auto-accept system violates gig workers' rights, tribunal decides

PUTRAJAYA — The Gig Workers Tribunal (TPG) has determined that Grab's auto-accept booking mechanism breaches fundamental rights afforded to e-hailing drivers under Malaysian labour protections. The tribunal's ruling emerged from three separate disputes brought by ride-hailing operators against the platform. The auto-accept system, which automatically assigns ride requests to drivers without explicit consent, was found to contradict gig worker safeguards designed to protect independent contractors. The tribunal concluded that drivers must retain meaningful control over accepting or rejecting work assignments, a principle central to gig worker classification and rights. The decision represents a significant development in Malaysia's evolving regulatory framework governing ride-hailing and platform-based work. Industry observers anticipate the ruling could compel Grab to restructure its booking allocation system to incorporate driver choice mechanisms. The tribunal's determination underscores ongoing tensions between platform efficiency requirements and worker autonomy in Southeast Asia's gig economy sector.