Bolt Malaysia survey: e-hailing is main income for 71% of drivers

KUALA LUMPUR: A survey by ride-hailing platform Bolt Malaysia says that 70.9% of drivers depend on e-hailing as their primary source of income, with most using their earnings to support their families (58%).

"Yet the majority of drivers earn between RM300 and RM1,600 per week and face mounting expenses. A striking 67% find insurance costs unreasonable, while opinions on overall affordability are split evenly," said the company in a statement.

Bolt Malaysia also noted that awareness of the Gig Workers Bill is strong, with 74% of drivers familiar with it and nearly 40% following it closely.

"While 38% expect a positive impact, drivers remain most concerned about its effect on income (57%), flexibility (40%), and SOCSO contributions (40%)," said the company.

On social protection, drivers are not opposed: 46% support mandatory SOCSO contributions, but a majority favour lower contribution rates of 1% or 0.5%, reflecting their modest and volatile earnings.

The insights were drawn from a nationwide survey of 508 e-hailing driver-partners conducted by Bolt Malaysia between July 29 and August 19, 2025, designed to capture driver perspectives on income, costs, work motivations, and the anticipated impact of the Bill.

Bolt Malaysia general manager Afzan Lutfi said, "E-hailing drivers are clear. They want protections that are fair, affordable, and reflect the realities of their work. We commend the government for taking proactive steps to strengthen protections."

"At the same time, gig work is not one-size-fits-all - delivery riders, freelancers, and ride-hailing drivers each face very different realities. The Bill is a positive initiative, but the details will matter. As it stands, our driver-partners have highlighted concerns of the potential impact of the proposed legislation on their income and flexibility,” he added.

Since launching in Malaysia, Bolt has grown its driver-partner base by over 540%, offering the competitive commission rates among major platforms (18.5%), transparent earnings, and clear deactivation policies.