Gig Economy, Financial Health and COVID-19: a Case Study of Foodpanda in Malaysia This Report Is Under the I3 Program, Funded by Metlife Foundation
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Gig Economy, Financial Health and COVID-19: A Case Study of foodpanda in Malaysia This report is under the i3 Program, funded by MetLife Foundation. The United Nations Capital Development Fund offers “last mile” finance models that unlock public and private resources, especially at the domestic level, to reduce poverty and support local economic development. The Centre for Financial Health acts as a convener, providing a platform to bring together global, regional and local actors committed to using financial and digital solutions to improve the financial lives of low-income families—helping them climb – and stay – out of poverty. For more information, visit uncdf.org/gfh or email [email protected] Outline (Click to View Specific Section) 1 About This Research 2 Who Are foodpanda Riders? A Profile of Responde nts 3 Workers in the Gig Economy: Opportunities and C oncerns 4 Financial Behaviors of foodpanda Riders 5 How Do foodpanda Riders Fare on Financial Heal th Metrics? 6 Financial Products and Digital Financial Services 7 COVID-19 Impacts and Bantuan Prihatin Nasional (BPN) Type Summary and Recommendations somethi8 ng About This Research This report seeks to understand the financial lives and aspirations of workers in the gig economy. In doing so, it explores the following questions: ? Why do workers choose the gig economy? What are their experiences in the gig economy? ? What is their financial health status? What are some key financial behaviors they demonstrate? ? How do they navigate their finances—what products and channels do they use? And, what barriers do they face? ? How has COVID-19 impacted them and how are they coping? Research approach: An online survey fielded in July 2020 among users of foodpanda platform in Malaysia. The Research Partner: foodpanda foodpanda is a mobile food delivery marketplace owned by the Berlin-based company Delivery Hero SE and operates in more than 200 cities across 14 countries in Asia and Central Europe. Find out more about foodpanda here. Who Are foodpanda Riders? A Profile of Respondents foodpanda riders are predominantly males under 35 years of age 990 Overall riders on the foodpanda platform responded 100% to the survey in July 2020. 90% 80% 70% 96% 60% 50% of survey respondents are males. 47.1% 40% 30% 31.2% 20% 20.1% 78% 10% 0 1.6% of survey respondents are youth under 35 years of age. 15-24 years 25-35 years 36-50 years Above 50 years The graphic on this page is interactive. Most respondents are educated up to post-secondary education or above, and two-thirds are full-timers who 53% of respondents have completed depend on foodpanda as the main/sole income source post-secondary education or higher. Overall 5.5% 37.6% 15.9% 13.2% 22.9% Female 38.5% 30.8% 11.5% 19.2% Male 5.7% 37.8% 15.5% 13.2% 22.8% 81% of respondents are full-time 15-24 years 4.5% 30.1% 21.7% 15.5% 24.3% 25-35 years 39.1% 13.5% 11.4% 27.9% riders on the foodpanda platform. > 35 years 12.6% 45.1% 12.6% 14.0% 10.2% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% 75% of respondents depend on No formal education Primary education (UPSR) or lower Lower secondary education (PT3/PMR/SRP/LCE) Upper secondary education (SPM/MCE/SPMV) Pre-university education (STPM/STP/HSC/Matriculation) foodpanda as their main/sole income Vocational training/accreditation Bachelor’s degree Master’s degree Doctoral degree source. Overall 64.8% 16.4% 10.4% 8.4% Female 69.2% 15.4% 11.5% Older age groups are more likely to Male 65.0% 16.5% 10.4% 8.2% 15-24 years 68.0% 8.4% 15.9% 7.8% be with foodpanda on a full-time 25-35 years 65.0% 18.7% 7.5% 8.8% basis and have other income > 35 years 60.0% 22.8% 8.8% 8.4% source(s). 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% Full-time as the main/only income source Full-time not as the main/only income source Part-time as the main/only income source Part-time not as the main/only income source 92% of foodpanda riders are low income earners with a gross annual income of ≤ RM 36,000, and about two-thirds earn less than RM 12,000 a year Overall 66.2% 25.4% 92% of foodpanda riders are B40 Female 69.2% 26.9% income earners, earning a gross Male 66.2% 25.4% 5.7% 15-24 years 84.8% 11.3% income of less than RM 36,000 a 25-35 years 62.0% 29.2% 6.7% year. > 35 years 48.4% 37.2% 7.9% Lower secondary education or lower 65.6% 25.8% 7.5% Upper secondary education 68.0% 24.2% Younger riders tend to earn less than Pre-university education 66.9% 26.8% older riders. Vocational training/accreditation 62.6% 32.1% Tertiary education 65.0% 22.4% 6.8% Single / Never married 76.4% 17.6% Those who depend on foodpanda as 54.1% 34.8% 7.2% Currently married the main/sole income source tend to Widowed/Divorced/Separated 56.0% 28.0% 8.0% Full-time as the main/only income source 66.8% 25.4% 6.1% earn less than those who derive Full-time not as the main/only income source 58.0% 30.2% income from other source(s). Part-time as the main/only income source 80.6% 16.5% Part-time not as the main/only income source 59.0% 26.5% 8.4% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% ≤ RM 12,000 RM 12,001 - RM 36,000 RM 36,001 - RM 60,000 RM 60,001 - RM 85,000 > RM 85,000 Workers in the Gig Economy: Opportunities and Concerns 72% of foodpanda riders spend more than eight hours a day on food delivery jobs Nearly half of foodpanda riders Overall 11.3% 16.9% 26.6% 45.3% work longer than 10 hours a day, Female 11.5% 23.1% 30.8% 34.6% Male 11.3% 16.6% 26.7% 45.4% while slightly more than a quarter 15-24 years 14.9% 21.4% 27.5% 36.2% 25-35 years 10.1% 14.4% 25.1% 50.4% spend between 8 and 10 hours a > 35 years 8.8% 15.8% 28.4% 47.0% day on food delivery jobs. Lower secondary education or lower 8.6% 12.9% 29.0% 49.5% Upper secondary education 9.7% 16.9% 28.5% 44.9% Pre-university education 17.2% 16.6% 23.6% 42.7% Vocational training/accreditation 13.0% 16.8% 25.2% 45.0% Men, riders who are above 25 years Tertiary education 10.1% 18.6% 25.3% 46.0% Single / Never married 12.2% 19.1% 27.5% 41.2% of age, and those who are Currently married 10.7% 14.4% 25.5% 49.4% Widowed/Divorced/Separated 12.0% 24.0% 60.0% separated from their spouses tend Annual income ≤ RM 12,000 14.7% 19.7% 25.6% 40.0% Annual income RM 12,001 - RM 36,000 13.5% 27.5% 54.2% to work longer hours. Annual income > RM 36,000 31.0% 59.5% 8.6% 16.0% 29.6% 45.8% Full-time as the main/only income source Full-time not as the main/only income source 11.7% 14.2% 22.2% 51.9% Part-time as the main/only income source 18.4% 23.3% 21.4% 36.9% Those who work longer hours tend Part-time not as the main/only income source 22.9% 20.5% 18.1% 38.6% to earn a higher income. 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% < 6 hours 6-8 hours 8-10 hours > 10 hours Most choose foodpanda out of choice, attracted by flexibility, autonomy and extra income Most riders chose foodpanda by choice, motivated by control over schedules and Overall clients, extra income, and flexible work hours. 100% Why did you choose the gig economy? 90% 80% 17% of riders chose flexible employment 70% out of necessity, citing difficulty in finding 60% traditional jobs as the main reason they started with foodpanda, and the proportion 50% 47.6% 45.7% 43.6% 42.1% of this group is higher among those who 40% are separated from their spouses and those 30% who depend on foodpanda as their main or 20% 21.6% 16.8% sole income source. 12.9% 10% 2.5% 2.1% 0 Those with other income source(s) joined Control over schedules and clients Additional income to supplement primary income source foodpanda mainly to earn additional Flexible work hours Extra income for savings Income higher than traditional jobs income. Can't find traditional jobs To socialize Other Don't know The graphic on this page is interactive. Uncertainty of income and lack of benefits are top concerns about gig work The top concerns of foodpanda riders What are your main Overall 34.0% 22.4% 11.7% 9.7% 8.7% 6.4% about gig work are income concerns about the Female 38.5% 15.4% 15.4% 11.5% 15.4% gig economy? Male 33.8% 22.7% 11.6% 9.5% 8.6% 6.5% uncertainty (34%), lack of additional 15-24 years 31.4% 20.4% 15.5% 8.1% 7.8% 7.4% 7.8% 25-35 years 33.0% 24.0% 9.4% 11.4% 10.9% benefits offered by traditional > 35 years 40.0% 21.9% 11.2% 8.4% 7.4% Lower secondary education or lower 29.0% 21.5% 14.0% 9.7% 6.5% 8.6% 6.5% employment (22%), and competition Upper secondary education 32.8% 23.7% 9.1% 9.7% 12.1% 6.5% (12%).