TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Online-app motorcycle taxi union ‘Garda’ announced that its members will once again hold a rally to demand a better welfare for its drivers on August 18, which is when the 2018 Asian Games will be opened by President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo.

“We continue to demand online-taxi application companies to restore the minimum online-taxi fare of Rp3,000 per kilometer,” said Garda Presidium member Danny Stefanus at Cempaka Mas, Central Jakarta on Monday.

Moreover, Danny said that drivers demand the government to immediately provide a legal certainty that would certainly improve the current legally-shady existence of online motorcycle taxis in Indonesia. He maintains that many online taxi drivers complained that the current fare of Rp1,200-Rp1,600 per kilometer is unfeasible.

“Online taxi app companies seem as if they don’t care and are not responding to our demands. Our demands are not exaggerated and will definitely not put pressure towards the company,” said Danny.

He further explained that the rally is set to be held in two locations where Asian Games events will be held which include the Gelora Bung Karno (GBK) Stadium in Jakarta and the Gelora Jaka Baring Sport City in Palembang.

Previously, online motorcycle taxi drivers held large scale rallies in demand of a better system and improved welfare on March 2017, November 2017, and April of 2018. Danny said that he does not intend to sabotage the 2018 Asian Games ceremony, but rather because strategic reasons to voice the group’s aspirations.

ADAM PRIREZA