YLKI Daily Secretary Agus Suyatno argues that no studies have been made in regard to the increase in safety aspects for its users after the increase in online ojek rates in September 2019. Besides, online ojek driver’s income fell due to the company's policy of excessively recruiting new members, without considering the balance of demand and supply.

On top of that, the decline in driver’s income can further be attributed to the promotions given by third parties, such as OVO and Gopay. The promotions are still allowed as long as it does not pass the lower limit fare provisions. “This is what should be intervened by the Ministry of Transportation," Agus told Bisnis.com on Wednesday, January 29, 2020.

The institution also highlighted the three-monthly evaluation of online ojek fares, as based on the Transportation Ministerial Decree No. 348/2019 on the Protection of the Safety of Motorcycle Users for Public Interest. Ironically, official public transport fares, such as those for the Transjakarta, have not been evaluated since 2004.

"It isn't that easy to raise the rate of official public transport. But why should they evaluate the online ojek tariff, which is actually not official transportation, every three months," Agus remarked.

Therefore, YLKI hopes that the Transportation Ministry can revise the period for evaluation of the online ojek tariff to be at least once every six months.

According to Agus, the formulation of an increase in online ojek fares in September 2019 already reflects the actual tariff and is in accordance with the basic living costs with a reasonable profit margin. Furthermore, there has been no external factor that would significantly affect online ojek’s operational costs, such as an increase in fuel prices.

BISNIS.COM | DIO SUHENDA (Intern Translator)