POPULAR ride-hailing firm, Grab, recently launched two initiatives under their social impact programme, “Grab for Good” here.
The initiative was jointly supported by the Public Works and Transport Ministry and the Ministry of Interior.
According to the Phnom Penh Post, the ministries said the initiatives were a significant contribution from the private sector and would focus on two issues.
The first, called “Break the Silence” will focus on unlocking more income-generating opportunities for the deaf and hearing-impared, and make the Grab platform more accessible and inclusive.
This includes message prompts to alert passengers when they have been paired with a deaf driver-partner, advising them to use the GrabChat feature and in-
vehicle flip cards to communicate.
“Grab will also launch a public education campaign to promote better communication and empathy, and provide enhanced training and onboard materials with local subtitles and sign language for driver-partners,” said a statement from Grab.
Public Works and Transport Minister Sun Chanthol said there were more than one million disabled persons in Cambodia, of whom more than 40,000 are deaf and mute.
“This is a good private sector project in cooperation with our state institutions by supporting and providing opportunities for the disabled, so they can make a living by driving for Grab to support their families.”
The second initiative focuses on combating human trafficking, where Grab will enter a partnership with non-governmental organisations, Liberty Shared Cambodia and Child Helpline Cambodia.
They will conduct online and offline training via the driver app and classroom sessions respectively, for 10,000 driver-partners starting in June .
Chou Bun Eng, the Ministry of Interior’s Secretary of State and permanent vice-chairman of the National Committee for Counter Trafficking (NCCT), said criminals took advantage of available transportation to commit human trafficking.
If drivers and passengers cooperate well, human trafficking can be successfully eliminated, she said.
Every year, the police crack down on at least 100 human trafficking-related offences.
“Sun Chanthol welcomed the Grab initiatives and called on more companies to follow its lead in driving a positive social impact through their businesses,” the statement from Grab said.
“As we expand our network across the region, including here in Cambodia, we are acutely aware that our driver-partners can unknowingly be the first point of contact for traffickers and their victims at airports, train stations or bus terminals.”
“This is why we are tenacious in proactively engaging in partnerships with Liberty Shared and Child Helpline to address this issue and train the driver-partners to recognise suspicious activity and respond appropriately,” grab Cambodia country head Hashim Alkaff said at the launch of the programme.