Ojol Drivers Only Get IDR 50,000 BHR, Wamenaker Calls Aplikators

Deputy Minister of Manpower (Wamenaker) Immanuel Ebenezer Gerungan. (Maria Trisnawati/VOI)

JAKARTA - Deputy Minister of Manpower (Wamenaker) Immanuel Ebenezer Gerungan summoned all online transportation applicators and couriers to conduct evaluations related to the provision of religious holiday bonuses (BHR). This was done after the Deputy Minister received a number of complaints from online motorcycle taxi driver (ojol) partners who admitted that they only received BHR of Rp50,000.

In the evaluation, Noel said that the Ministry of Manpower highlighted the nominal amount of BHR received by ojol and couriers who were deemed unfit. Not only that, some ojol did not even get BHR.

"Today we have called friends who are applicators or digital platforms and they are present. There is a little situation that makes me angry because there are things that make us offended regarding some who cannot get BHR. Some only get 50,000 BHR," Noel explained to the media crew after conducting an evaluation with the applicator at the Ministry of Manpower Building, Thursday, April 10.

Noel said that the applicator also provided clarification if the nominal BHR was adjusted to the criteria also set by the applicator. Furthermore, Noel said, each applicator has criteria for activity and productivity.

Nevertheless, Noel said that the applicator will also conduct a thorough evaluation so that similar incidents will not occur in the future.

"But we refute the criteria with the data on which the ojol driver reports. But they will conduct a thorough evaluation because they should not let the Lebaran incident occur again in the future," explained Noel.

Despite conducting the evaluation, Noel ensured that he would not impose sanctions on the applicator considering that the appeal for BHR to this applicator was a newly established policy. Moreover, he continued, the applicator also has a role for economic growth by providing jobs for the community.

"This is a new decision. There may not be sanctions because digital platforms have a role in providing job space. We just need to strengthen our regulations regarding the welfare of ojol drivers," said Noel.