In Haze-Hit Johor, Delivery Riders Weigh Their Health Against Lost Income

When the air turns unhealthy, the usual advice is to stay indoors. For many delivery riders in Johor, that is simply not an option.

A report by Malay Mail spoke to riders working through the thick haze that has settled over the state, carried across the region by smoke from fires in Indonesia. Air quality reached very unhealthy levels in several parts of Johor last week, and the state extended school and educational institution closures until 23 October. Outdoor workers, however, carried on.

Riders describe the symptoms

The riders interviewed described a familiar list of complaints:

• Sore throats and nasal irritation after long hours on the road.
• Sore, stinging eyes, which one rider said sometimes affected his vision while riding.
• Worries about the long-term effects of breathing polluted air.

Ghani Jaafar, a 50-year-old food and beverage delivery rider on the outskirts of Johor Bahru, said his symptoms began early last week and lasted until the weekend. He also works part-time as a construction site supervisor and spends more than 10 hours a day working outdoors across both jobs. He said he drinks more water, monitors the Air Pollutant Index (API) and tries to limit his time outside, and would consider scaling down deliveries if the haze becomes severe.

Trading orders for health

Mohd Eddin Sanusi, 38, who also works as a car rental executive in Pontian, said he washes his face more often and uses eye drops. His family advised him to avoid delivery runs if the API goes above 200. He described this haze as the worst he has seen in three years of delivery work, and said it would help if the government introduced an assistance package for affected gig workers.

Putera Mohammad Aidil, 41, delivers food for his family's stall in Bandar Baru Uda. After a sore throat and eye irritation, he downloaded an air quality app and, on his wife's advice, now limits deliveries to nearby residential areas. That reduces his exposure but also cuts into the business. As a father of three young children, he said he cannot forgo his health.

"It is meaningless for people like me to be indoors as both my jobs are based outdoors." — delivery rider Ghani Jaafar, speaking to Malay Mail

What the health advice says

The report noted that prolonged exposure to haze, particularly fine particles known as PM2.5, can irritate the eyes and airways and worsen conditions such as asthma. In an advisory on 15 October, the Health Ministry urged the public to avoid outdoor activities when the API is above 100, the threshold for unhealthy air. It recommended N95 masks for people who must go outside and advised employers to provide masks to outdoor workers.

Under Malaysia's API classification:

1. Readings above 100 are unhealthy.
2. Readings from 201 to 300 are very unhealthy.
3. Readings above 300 are hazardous.

Johor recorded 30,648 cases of asthma and upper respiratory tract infections in October as of mid-month, a 20.7 per cent week-on-week increase, according to state Education and Information Committee chairman Dr Muhammad Naqib Md Ghazali.

Why this matters

Gig workers are paid per trip, so the haze creates a direct trade-off between income and health that salaried workers do not face in the same way. The riders' comments also highlight a gap: health advisories tell people to stay indoors, but they offer little help to those whose work is on the road. Our explainer on the Gig Workers Act 2025 covers the wider framework for rider protections.

For riders still working, the practical steps mentioned in the report and the Health Ministry advice are wearing a properly fitted N95 mask, checking the API before and during shifts, drinking enough water, resting eyes and seeking medical help if symptoms such as breathlessness appear.

The riders' experience also reflects a wider question for platforms and customers. Some riders said they were cutting their delivery radius or considering fewer hours, which may mean longer waits or fewer available riders in affected areas while the haze lasts. Customers can help by being patient with delays, choosing pick-up when convenient and making sure their address details are clear so riders spend less time searching on the road. Small changes like these reduce the time riders spend breathing polluted air for each order.

A simple thank-you to riders working through the haze also goes a long way.

FAQ

Until when are Johor schools closed?

The report said closures were extended until 23 October.

What API level is considered unhealthy?

Readings above 100 are unhealthy, 201 to 300 very unhealthy and above 300 hazardous.

Should employers provide masks?

The Health Ministry advised employers to provide N95 masks to outdoor workers.

The haze will eventually lift, but the riders' stories are a reminder that the people who keep food and parcels moving are often the most exposed when the air turns bad.