Transport Workers Unions About Government Plans To Ban Ojol Using Pertalite

Illustration (Photo: Doc Antara)

JAKARTA - The head of the Indonesian Transport Workers Union (SPAI), Lily Pujiati, opposes the government's plan to ban online motorcycle taxis (ojol) using Pertalite-subsidized fuel oil (BBM).

He assessed that this illiteracy would be even more burdensome, not only ojol, but also other platform workers such as online taxis and couriers.

"Because we spend a lot of money to buy this fuel per day. For ojol and courier, on average we spend Rp. 30,000 to Rp. 40,000. Meanwhile, the tax is up to Rp. 150,000. And for net income, we only averaged Rp. 50,000 to Rp. 1000, both 2 and 4 wheels," he said in a statement to the media, Friday, November 29.

Lily explained, this was due to the partnership relationship that affected the drivers and ojol not being recognized as permanent workers.

This then resulted in ojol drivers and online taxi drivers not getting a steady income every month.

"The platform evades giving us a decent minimum wage every month. Not only that, nor do we get the rights as permanent workers as stipulated in Law 13/2003 concerning employment," explained Lily.

Lily also said that currently the platforms operating in Indonesia include Gojek, Grab, Maxim, Shopee Food, Lalamove, InDrive, Borzo, and others still use partnership relationships to cover up real work relationships. He considered this to happen so as not to give workers rights to us.

Furthermore, Lily said, the economic condition was also decreasing, so her party firmly refused to revoke the fuel subsidy. With the revocation of fuel subsidies, she assessed that this would have an impact on rising prices and would reduce people's intention to use online transportation services.

"So the problem is not about this vehicle belonging to a driver or platform. But the government must make regulations that favor the people, not revoke subsidies," explained Lily.

Regarding the life of ojol drivers and online taxis, Lily asked the government to provide certainty of income and work for ojol, taksol and couriers.

"For this reason, we also demand that the Minister of Manpower immediately issue a Permenaker that protects platform workers and revisions of the Manpower Law by recognizing us as permanent workers," said Lily.

Met in a separate place, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Bahlil Lahadalia said the ban on ojol using subsidized fuel was still being studied and had not yet been decided.

"Yesterday I talked at my house. It's an EXcercise, there has been no final decision. What is clear is that we will make everything fair," Bahlil told the media crew at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources Building, Friday, November 29.

Bahlil added that the final decision will only be continued after the government has finished conducting an assessment of the new regulation. He ensured that the new regulation would be fair and only accepted by the people who were entitled.