IndoNEWSian.com – On Tuesday, thousands of drivers who work for ride-hailing and food delivery applications staged protests in Indonesia. They are calling for a limit on commission fees to be set at a maximum of 10 percent.
Many motorists assembled in the central streets of Jakarta, riding motorcycles and holding up banners.
Hundreds more people in Surabaya, Indonesia’s second-biggest city, headed to the headquarters of ride-sharing companies Gojek and Grab, then proceeded to gather in front of the gubernatorial building, as observed by an AFP reporter.
” numerous acquaintances of ours ended up being involved in accidents on the roads and unfortunately lost their lives due to having to pursue their earnings,” stated Raden Igun Wicaksono, who leads the driver’s association Garda Indonesia, during an interview with AFP.
It’s about people’s lives, not business calculations.
Drivers are additionally requesting an end to reduced fare initiatives and urging legislators to hold meetings with both the drivers’ association and the application companies.
Motorcycle and moped riders, who are essential to Indonesia’s extensive gig economy, can make as much as 150,000 rupiah ($10) daily; however, expenses such as application fees and fuel significantly cut into their earnings.
Gojek — one of Asia’s most valuable startups alongside Singapore-based Grab — stated that they were dedicated to “upholding the long-term well-being of our driver partners.”
However, reducing the 20 percent commission rate, which adhered to regulatory requirements, was not considered a feasible option, stated Ade Mulya, who leads public policy at GoTo, the parent organization of Gojek.
Ade stated that lowering the commission to 10 percent isn’t feasible because the present 20 percent taken from customers’ trip fees is crucial for financing programs aimed at supporting the ecosystem’s sustainability and enhancing drivers’ earnings.
Tirza Munusamy, who leads public affairs at Grab Indonesia, stated that the company’s commission system is essential for upholding the standard of their services.
Tirza stated that if the commission structure were substantially decreased, it could affect more than just service quality; it might jeopardize the stability of an ecosystem supporting millions of individuals. She added that Grab is ready to engage in discussions to make sure policies continue to benefit drivers.
