Online Ojek Drivers Call Ministry Powerless against App Companies

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Garda for Online Ojek Drivers' Association called the Ministry of Transportation powerless against app service providers (ASP). According to the association's chairman Igun Wicaksono, the ministry is unable to punish companies that violate the maximum 15-percent-fee rule.

Igun said that Transportation Minister's Regulation no.KP 667 of 2022, which was put in effect on Sunday, September 11, only serves as a reference for tariffs.

"The ministry only issues regulations on reference rates and apps' discount fees. However, because there is no legal status on ojek, the ministry does not have the power to apply sanctions to app companies," he told Tempo on Thursday, 15 September.

According to Igun, the status of online motorcycle taxis as a means of transportation is still illegal. Therefore, they are dubbed as the companies' "partners" and exploited for profit without having the ability to fight legally.

The Association, Igun said, has repeatedly sent letters to President Joko Widodo asking him to immediately legalize online ojek, a.k.a motorcycle taxis, as a means of public transportation. One way is by asking the president to issue a Government Regulation in Lieu of Law (Perppu) that provides online ojek drivers with legality and legal protection from the state.

The Transportation Ministry has responded to complaints from app-based ojek drivers about how app companies are still imposing fees above the 15-percent cap.

"We continue to monitor the implementation of this maximum 15 percent fee," the ministry's spokesperson, Adita Irawati, said on Wednesday, September 14.

Moh. Khory Alfarizi

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