Every day, a lot of delivery riders get a new order and have to drive across the city again. But in the fast-paced gig economy, people often don’t think about their long-term financial security as much. The foodpanda EPF partnership wants to change that by helping riders think about more than just their daily pay and plan for the future.
Foodpanda Malaysia and the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) are working together on a program called From Ride to Retire to teach delivery partners in Sarawak about money and help them plan for retirement.
Launch of the Program in Sarawak
The project officially started on February 9, 2026, in Kuching. As part of the program, 400 of the best foodpanda riders in Sarawak will get structured help with saving and planning for retirement.
The effort is part of panda hearts, which is foodpanda’s program to help delivery partners with more than just their daily pay.
Shubham Saran, the Director of Operations at foodpanda Malaysia, says that delivery partners are very important to the company’s operations. He said that the program’s goal is to help riders not only by giving them ways to make money, but also by helping them feel more confident about their finances in the long term.
Teaching People About Money In Four Cities
This program is different from many other financial campaigns that only use digital tools because it brings financial education directly to riders.
From February 9 to 13, EPF officers will be holding sessions in four cities in Sarawak:
- Kuching
- Sibu
- Bintulu
- Miri
These sessions are all about useful things that gig workers need to know, such as:
- Knowing what voluntary EPF contributions are
- Finding out how retirement savings grow over time
- Making saving a regular part of your life
- Taking advantage of the i-Saraan plan made for people who work for themselves
The program was also a big step forward in the partnership between foodpanda Malaysia and the EPF Sarawak region. The launch was made official with a signing ceremony at the EPF Kuching Headquarters.
i-Saraan Helping Riders Plan for Retirement
At the start of the programme, EPF Sarawak Regional Director Aminuddin Abdul Aziz spoke about the importance of financial planning, especially for people working in the gig economy.
He encouraged riders to consider i-Saraan, a voluntary EPF contribution scheme designed for self-employed individuals.
Through this scheme, gig workers can contribute at their own pace while also receiving government incentives. Even small, regular donations can add up over time and help you save for retirement.
The goal of the foodpanda EPF partnership is to make it easier for delivery riders, especially those who may not have thought about saving for the future in a structured way before, to understand and plan for retirement.
Strengthening Connections with Riders
The program is more than just about cash. It also helps foodpanda and the people who deliver food get along better.
Riders can go to meetings, talk about their daily work, and do things that show how much they care about their job on the platform. These moments create a stronger sense of connection between the company and its rider community. These face-to-face sessions are especially meaningful in areas where riders previously had fewer opportunities to connect directly with company representatives.
Foodpanda has said that the program might grow to include Sabah and other cities in East Malaysia, which would give more delivery partners the chance to learn about money.
To Support The Financial Security in the Gig Economy in Malaysia
As the gig economy continues to grow, financial preparedness is becoming important for independent workers.
The partnership between foodpanda and EPF shows how businesses and government agencies can work together to support gig workers and strengthen their financial security.
Through this programme, delivery riders receive practical financial guidance along with simple ways to start saving for the future. Over time, these steps can help them build a stronger and more secure financial future..
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FAQs
1. What is the foodpanda EPF collaboration?
It is a joint initiative between foodpanda Malaysia and the Employees Provident Fund to provide financial education and retirement planning support for delivery riders.
2. How many riders benefit from the programme in Sarawak?
The programme currently supports 400 top performing foodpanda riders across Sarawak.
3. What is the i-Saraan scheme?
i-Saraan is a voluntary EPF contribution programme designed for self employed individuals, including gig workers.
