JAKARTA, March 4, 2026, 20:23 WIB
Grab Holdings Limited’s Indonesian arm announced it’s boosting its Bonus Hari Raya (BHR) allowance for app-based drivers, setting the budget for 2026 between 100 billion and 110 billion rupiah ($5.7 million–$6.3 million)—twice what it allocated previously. More than 400,000 drivers with high activity stand to benefit, according to Grab Indonesia chief Neneng Goenadi, who said the initiative is meant to ensure “support that is directly felt” by their partners. 1
Indonesia’s decision hits now, as the country raises the bar for what gig-economy companies owe just before Eid al-Fitr, shifting what used to be a special bonus into a firmer expense. The manpower ministry has issued a circular, local media say, bumping up the minimum BHR to 25% of a driver’s average net income over the past year—more than last year’s threshold. 2
Industry players are set to hand out 220 billion rupiah ($12.6 million) in Eid bonuses this year to roughly 850,000 ride-hailing drivers, according to Coordinating Economic Affairs Minister Airlangga Hartarto. The move is part of a wider push to boost household spending during the holiday. Hartarto, speaking at a press conference, said the government wants the bonuses distributed earlier—payouts should kick off 14 days before Eid and wrap up at least seven days prior. Eid is expected on March 21. 3
Hartarto told reporters that about 400,000 driver-partners will receive BHR payments through both Grab and GoTo Group’s platforms. Smaller platforms, including Maxim and inDrive, have also agreed to distribute the payments. The briefing, according to Metro TV, saw appearances from GoTo CEO Hans Patuwo, Grab Indonesia’s Neneng Goenadi, Maxim CEO Vadim Lunusov, and inDrive Indonesia’s Rio Aristo. 4
Grab Indonesia’s program breaks out payments across seven tiers tied to driver productivity and activity, MerahPutih reported. At the top, GrabBike drivers can get as much as 850,000 rupiah, while GrabCar drivers may see up to 1.6 million rupiah. The lowest payout starts at 150,000 rupiah for GrabBike and 200,000 rupiah for GrabCar. Drivers check if they qualify through the GrabDriver app. 5
Bonuses come from company coffers, not the state budget, according to the government, as reported by Jakarta Globe. Airlangga said that two-wheeler drivers are looking at an average of 150,000 rupiah each, with four-wheeler drivers at roughly 200,000 rupiah apiece. The figures aren’t fixed; actual payouts depend on the platform. The outlet pointed out that unions raised concerns last year over the relatively small bonuses, as gig workers continue to push for benefits more in line with formal employees, who typically see a bigger holiday allowance. 6
Grab shares slipped roughly 2.8% to $4.08 in U.S. premarket trading Wednesday.
The BHR launch comes as Indonesian ride-hailing platforms face intensifying policy scrutiny in what is their largest Southeast Asian market. Earlier this year, a draft presidential decree surfaced with measures like lower commission caps and broader mandatory insurance coverage, according to Reuters. “Motorcycle taxi drivers have become an increasingly visible political force,” said Siwage Dharma Negara, senior fellow at Singapore’s ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute. 7
Grab is selling a profitability narrative while simultaneously ramping up outlays on tech and fresh services. The company’s aiming for $1.5 billion in EBITDA by 2028 and wants to boost revenue by at least 20% annually over the next three years, President and COO Alex Hungate told Reuters last month. Still, Huatai Securities has cautioned that heavier spending on AI and autonomous vehicle tie-ups could put pressure on profits, and pointed to risks including “slower-than-expected improvement in user penetration and macroeconomic volatility.” 8
Back in February, Grab put out a 2026 revenue forecast between $4.04 billion and $4.10 billion, with adjusted EBITDA guidance landing at $700 million to $720 million. Alongside those targets, the company rolled out a $500 million share buyback plan. CFO Peter Oey said making rides affordable would stay a focus. He also flagged that grocery growth has started to outpace food delivery. In a separate move, Grab agreed to acquire Stash Financial, a U.S. investment platform, in a deal pegged at $425 million at signing. 9
Still, fresh BHR guidelines don’t end the debate over eligibility or income formulas—there’s space for disputes. Bigger payouts? That’s likely to come up again, with Indonesia’s gig workers pushing harder for safeguards. More pressure there would mean rising costs, even as platforms juggle stable fares, retention, and margins.
