Drivers want ride-hailing firms to raise the share they get for every trip from 80 per cent now and for the government to give special status for their terms of employment so they have more bargaining power over fees, said Andi Kristiyanto, a representative of the National Online Taxi Coalition, which arranged the protest.
Driver Wandi said he worked for 10 hours every day but made less than 150,000 rupiah (US$9.73) most days. This means his daily income is below Jakarta’s minimum wage of 5 million rupiah (US$324.5).
“We want platforms to listen to us,” said Wandi, who gave only one name.
GoTo and Grab offer ride-hailing, food delivery, and other services in several Southeast Asian countries, and have a combined market capitalisation of about US$18 billion.
The companies recognise drivers as partners, so they do not have the legal obligation to set minimum wages, pay social security insurance or limit working hours, said Nabiyla Risfa Izzati, a labour law lecturer at University of Gadjah Mada.
“It’s right to push the government so that it is the one that regulates the companies,” she said, adding it needed to set floor and ceiling fees across all industries for the drivers, such as ride-hailing and food delivery.
Indonesia’s manpower ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment, while the transport ministry said it did not regulate fees, urging platforms to listen to drivers.
