TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Transport Workers Union (SPAI) is calling on the government to swiftly regulate the pricing scheme for food and beverage deliveries via online motorcycle taxi (ojol) platforms. The demand follows concerns over the substantial deductions taken by platforms from drivers’ earnings.
SPAI Chairperson Lily Pujiati explained that since 2022, platforms have consistently taken more than 20 percent of delivery fees without facing any government sanctions. In many cases, drivers are left with only a small fraction of the payment made by customers.
“When consumers pay Rp8,000 for food deliveries, drivers receive only Rp5,200. The cut can be as high as 70 percent. This is very unfair,” Lily stated in a written release on Monday, July 21, 2025.
She said the problem stems from the lack of government regulation on food and beverage delivery rates. Pricing decisions are left entirely to the platforms, which results in monopolistic practices and arbitrary pricing for both drivers and consumers.
Lily also noted that the high deductions are not proportional to the operational costs borne by drivers. These include expenses for fuel, phone credit, data packages, parking fees, vehicle installments, spare parts, and work-related gear such as helmets and jackets.
SPAI estimated that a driver’s daily operational costs can range between Rp 50,000 and Rp 100,000. “The platform does not contribute a single rupiah toward these expenses. Drivers cover everything themselves,” Lily said.
She added that SPAI will formally submit its demands during a rally involving motorcycle taxi drivers at the Horse Statue area in Central Jakarta on Monday afternoon, July 21, 2025.
During the demonstration, the union will also protest against various incentive schemes and app-based programs that are deemed discriminatory and detrimental to drivers. These include savings schemes, “aceng” (flat fare programs), slots, hubs, comfort, premium, and priority systems.
According to Lily, these programs significantly lower drivers' take-home pay. “The deductions can range from Rp3,000 to Rp20,000. This clearly impacts driver welfare,” she said.
Tempo attempted to obtain a response from GoTo’s Corporate Affairs representative, Pudja Lestari, regarding SPAI’s demands. However, no response had been received as of publication time.
Earlier, a proposal to cap the platform's cut at 10 percent was rejected by application companies.
Government Relations Specialist at Maxim Indonesia, Muhammad Rafi Assagaf, argued that reducing the deduction to 10 percent would negatively affect the online transportation ecosystem.
“It would hinder innovation (from online transportation ecosystem),” he said during a meeting with the Transportation Minister in Central Jakarta on May 19, 2025.
Grab Indonesia’s Chief of Public Affairs, Tirza R. Munusamy, shared a similar view. She said the 20 percent cut currently in place is used to fund technology development, as well as insurance for drivers and passengers. It also supports operational aid programs for drivers, such as oil changes and tire repairs.
“These are aimed at easing drivers' daily expenses,” she said.
Riri Rahayu and Alif Ilham Fajriadi also contributed to the writing of this article.
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