Afrigather In December 2023, ride-hailing platforms launched bonuses for driver-partners after the elimination of gasoline subsidies. These bonuses are presupposed to incentivise drivers disillusioned with gig driving on the again of complaints that the mannequin now not works for them. To earn between ₦30,000 to ₦63,000 in bonuses, drivers should full 30-50 weekly journeys.
One gig driver estimates that drivers earn about ₦30,000 each day, however a surge in gasoline costs and quickening inflation imply web earnings are significantly decrease. The weekly bonuses that increase their revenue have change into so important that some drivers are chopping corners to satisfy the targets required to earn them.
“Generally after taking a number of journeys, a driver may ask a fellow driver who’s close by or a pal to e book brief journeys which generally price ₦800-₦1,500 to get them to the each day goal,” one gig employee who has now taken a break from driving instructed TechCabal.
All of the drivers lose is a fraction of the price which the platform takes as fee—an inexpensive alternative price in comparison with lacking out on the bonus.
Time pressures in Lagos, infamous for its visitors jams, have made drivers inventive.
”Drivers can get about 15 journey requests in a day. Some shortly hit the targets and use the remainder of the day to run offline journeys the place they will keep away from paying commissions. Some use the time to take care of their private wants, repair their automotive, [or work their other jobs if they only drive part-time.]”
The bonuses aren’t tied to amount alone. Trip-hailing firms say drivers should have a minimal high quality rating of 70 to qualify for the bonuses even after they meet the weekly journey targets. Rejecting journeys can decrease drivers’ high quality scores.
One workaround is accepting pretend brief journeys.
“The [dummy] journey will be so long as 3km, however the driver can cease driving after 1km and finish the journey,” one other gig driver mentioned. As a result of the dummy journey is paid for, the app assumes it’s professional and updates the motive force’s progress on the each day goal.
Trip-hailing firms know gig drivers’ antics due to their in depth expertise with incentive programs. Corporations are at all times looking out for fraudulent journeys and devise methods to remain one step forward.
“Simply final month, after paying me my cash together with my gasoline bonus, Uber blocked my account asking me to pay about ₦80,000 to revive it,” a gig driver who had used a number of of those methods to achieve his goal instructed TechCabal. “They should have realised I tricked them after paying me.”
Platforms regularly increase the bar for drivers to qualify for bonuses. For the October problem on Bolt, which started on Tuesday, drivers should full 12 journeys to qualify.
“It was eight, then it was 9, and now it has gone up once more,” the one Bolt driver mentioned.
These underhanded techniques to earn more money spotlight how gig driving has change into extraordinarily difficult. For years, drivers have been requested for larger base fares and decrease commissions. Offline journeys sidelining the ride-hailing platforms have change into extra widespread. Drivers ask riders to pay greater than the app costs or cancel journeys.
Whereas drivers proceed the push for larger base fares, they’ll take the following smartest thing: back-breaking bonuses.
