9th October 2026 - 3 min read
E-hailing drivers on median earnings could take home up to RM227 more a month from 2027, and p-hailing delivery riders up to RM100 more. This comes from a RM160 million package paid for by the government and Grab together. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced it when he tabled Budget 2027 in the Dewan Rakyat on 9 October.
About 600,000 Malaysians earn a living as e-hailing drivers and p-hailing riders. Budget 2027 also gives them more help with PERKESO and EPF contributions. New rules on minimum earnings are due in early 2027.
The package raises the minimum earnings rate for e-hailing drivers and p-hailing riders. It also helps pay for vehicle maintenance and insurance, and covers part of their PERKESO contributions.
Over a year, RM227 more a month adds up to RM2,724 for a driver, and RM100 more a month adds up to RM1,200 for a rider (our calculation). Anwar said “up to”, so not every driver or rider will get the full amount. It also didn’t say whether drivers and riders on other platforms will get a similar deal.
The Gig Consultative Council is still negotiating a minimum earnings rate for gig workers. It’s also working on an earnings formula and minimum social protection standards, and these will be finalised in early 2027. The Grab package is meant to help drivers and riders until then.
The government will also regulate the whole p-hailing delivery sector under the Land Public Transport Agency (APAD) and the Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board (LPKP). Until now, these rules have mainly covered e-hailing.
The government will match 35% of PERKESO contributions for e-hailing drivers and p-hailing riders. This goes up to 50% if the platform company also pays part of the contribution. More than 200,000 self-employed workers in 17 other sectors, where PERKESO isn’t compulsory, will get a 70% match.
E-hailing drivers and p-hailing riders can also get up to RM600 a year in matching EPF contributions, or up to RM6,000 over their lifetime. This continues the i-Saraan Plus incentive from Budget 2026. On tax, compulsory Lindung Kendiri contributions can now be claimed under PERKESO relief. Voluntary Lindung 24 Jam and Lindung Kendiri contributions get up to RM150 more in relief.
The extra earnings from the Grab package will come through the app. The EPF and PERKESO matching is different, because the government only adds money when you put some in first. A driver who never contributes to EPF gets none of the RM600 a year, so the full RM6,000 over a lifetime depends on contributing every year.
Gig workers who want to start a business or buy their first home can also apply for financing from BSN and Agrobank, which have set aside RM270 million. If you drive or ride full-time, contributing through EPF’s i-Saraan is the way to get the matching money.
As a creative content writer, Eloise has covered finance, business, lifestyle topics, and even moonlights as a singer-songwriter outside of RinggitPlus. Her current interests are learning the best ways to optimise spending and credit card hacks to gain more airline miles.
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