Riri Rahayu, Jakarta – The online motorcycle taxi drivers' association, Garda Indonesia, will stage a mass protest on Tuesday, May 20, 2025. The General Chairperson of Garda Indonesia, Igun Wicaksono, stated that the protest will be participated in by thousands of online motorcycle taxi (ojek) drivers from various regions such as East Java, Central Java, Yogyakarta, Cirebon, Bandung, Cikampek, Karawang, Greater Banten, Palembang, and Lampung.

The protest will be concentrated at the Merdeka Palace, the Ministry of Transportation, and the Indonesian House of Representatives. He added that a similar demonstration will also be held simultaneously in other cities.

"The Garda hopes that the government will address the concerns of online motorcycle and taxi drivers who have tolerated regulatory violations by the applications," Igun said in a written statement on Thursday, May 15, 2025.

In addition to the protests, Igun stated that Garda Indonesia and other motorcycle taxi associations will ensure a mass application or offbid. Therefore, on May 20, 2025, all orders through the application will be disrupted. "We hope the public will view this offbid action as a lesson to regulatory-violating applications," he said.

Igun also apologized to the Jakarta people, as some areas of Jakarta are expected to experience traffic congestion. He urged road users to adjust their travel time to avoid getting stuck in traffic. "We apologize for any inconvenience caused by traffic or disrupted public activities," Igun said.

Previously, the Indonesian Transportation Workers' Union (SPAI) had conveyed the same plan. The Chairperson of SPAI, Lily Pujiati, stated that the massive offbid action is a form of protest by online transportation workers against unfair working conditions. This action is also a protest against the 70 percent commission deducted from the applications.

Lily stated that drivers only receive a fee of Rp5,200 for delivering food. Meanwhile, the customer pays the application Rp18,000. "Clearly, the application profits by exploiting motorcycle taxi drivers," she said.

Therefore, SPAI supports the demand for a 10 percent cut or removal. Additionally, SPAI requests applications to provide clarity regarding passengers, goods, and food that are equal and fair. "Additionally, we support eliminating discriminatory programs that prioritize orders for motorcycle taxi drivers who participate in them, which results in unequal working rights for other drivers," said Lily.

– Adil Al Hasan contributed to the writing of this article

Source: https://en.tempo.co/read/2007697/online-motorcycle-taxi-drivers-set-to-stage-nationwide-protest