Gojek’s drivers in Singapore will have to pay higher service fees to the tech company next year, the company announced on Monday, citing improved demand and strong overall recovery from the pandemic.
“As Singapore continues to recover strongly from the pandemic, with more people using ride-hailing services, it is prudent for us to review our service fee in line with current market conditions,” a Gojek spokesperson said.
Drivers will be charged 15% in commission starting Feb 1, 2023, for at least 12 months, the company said. Gojek temporarily cut the commission it collects in June by half to 10% to help drivers stay afloat amid the pandemic.
Gojek will not lift the ‘driver fee’, a fee of $0.50 to $0.80 paid by customers per trip, at least until end-June 2023 to help drivers cope with rising operational costs.
“Our driver-partners are the core of our business and we have always been committed to finding ways to better support them, ensuring that they can build a sustainable livelihood on our platform,” the spokesperson said.
The decision is aimed at supporting GoTo’s strategy to “accelerate its path to financial independence”, according to a statement. Gojek’s parent company has been trying to focus on its core business and achieve profitability through measures such as divestments and layoffs.