Grab, led by its group CEO and co-founder Anthony Tan, has responded to the challenges of local transportation by adapting its services in eight countries
As soon as Covid-19 started spreading, Grab—which has evolved from a ride-hailing platform to include food delivery, insurance and e-payment services—began offering myriad initiatives to help its community of drivers and merchant partners ride out some of the most severe impacts of the pandemic.
It started several of them to alleviate the “immense financial anxiety caused by Covid-19”, said group CEO and co-founder Anthony Tan. The company extended financial assistance to drivers affected by the virus as well as insurance protection and earnings support for eligible drivers. These are funded in part by voluntary Grab employee donations that are matched dollar for dollar by the company.
Grab has also distributed more than one million masks and bottles of hand sanitiser across the region to further safeguard customers and partners.
Five days after Singapore raised its alert level to orange, GrabCare was introduced. The on-demand service, which reportedly took less than 72 hours to develop, allows frontline healthcare workers in Singapore to secure rides to and from hospitals at any time of day. In one day, 2,000 of its drivers registered their support by signing up to be part of this dedicated service.
“It’s in times of need when we know who our true everyday heroes are. I truly believe that this kampung spirit, caring for each other as one community, is what will get us through this,” Tan said on LinkedIn. Grab also announced that its senior leadership team would take a 20 per cent pay cut.
(Related: Grab CEO Anthony Tan Shaves His Head And Raises More Than S$200,000 For Hair For Hope)