BAM DPR Holds FGD To Discuss 10 Percent Cuts For Aplikators, Grab And Gojek Not Present

Photo: Special

JAKARTA - Deputy Chairman of the Indonesian House of Representatives' Aspirations Agency (BAM) Adian Napitupulu questioned the absence of Grab and GoJek's online transportation applicators on the Focus Group Discussion (FGD) agenda, discussing the restructuring of equitable online transportation regulations.

According to Adian, the DPR is a high state institution and functions as a proactive institution in bridging people's voices.

For him, attendance in this discussion means respecting the existence of institutions, roles, and functions so that they can provide benefits to the community.

"If they are "Grab and Gojek" do not respect high state institutions, then we can also disrespect them," said Adian.

Present at the FGD were representatives of a number of ministries. Starting from representatives of the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs (Kemendigi), the Ministry of Transportation (Kemenhub), the Ministry of Manpower (Kemenaker) and the Ministry of MSMEs.

Maxim's applicator representative was present at the event. Meanwhile, Grab and GoJek representatives were not present even though they had received an invitation.

At least 12 online motorcycle taxi associations were registered at the forum, including the Indonesian Online Drivers Union (SEPOI), the National Ojol Coalition (KON), the National Online Driver Community Forum (FKDOI), the Indonesian Special Rental Transport Organization (ORASKI), and various other online driver associations.

On that occasion, Adian emphasized that this forum is important, because it involves the fate of around 20 million people who depend on the online transportation sector.

"There are changes that can run in the future from this conversation, although in fact I also have a little doubt. If we look at the composition, here there is the DPR RI that makes laws, there will be Korlantas that will oversee its implementation in the field, there is the Ministry of Transportation which makes regulations. Permenhub, "he explained.

He stressed that this forum should focus on improving driver welfare, not just a matter of terms.

"Actually what they (online drivers) want today, to hear what happened to our child, what happened to our wife, how our child's school. That means talking is not a name, not a term, but income," said Adian.

"There are SIMplifications of 5 million in our notes online drivers. If you have two children on average, it means that there are 10 million people. If you have one life partner on average, there are 5 million more. So, our conversation in this room is a little more, it will determine at least 20 million people there," he added.

Adian stated that meetings with various parties had not produced concrete improvements for online drivers.

"I don't want this meeting to happen the same way the umpteenth time. I want us to focus on their income, because their children, their wives, their families don't eat from those terms, they eat from their income," said Adian.

Director of Land Transportation Road Transportation of the Indonesian Ministry of Transportation, Mustohir in the same place explained several important aspects related to online transportation.

"We continue to make efforts to harmonize online transportation regulations, considering the increasingly complex challenges in the era of digitalization. Existing regulations do need to be reviewed, to accommodate technological developments and community needs," said Mustohir.

Meanwhile, the Director General of the Indonesian Ministry of Manpower, Indah Anggoro Putri, explained the issue of employment in online transportation.

"There is a fundamental difference between the concept of employment in the Manpower Law and partnerships in gig economy. We are working on initiatives to protect informal sector workers including online drivers," said Indah.

Modantara Executive Director, Agung Yudha said, gig economy is a global phenomenon that changes the paradigm of traditional employment.

"Indonesia needs to learn from the experiences of other countries, in regulating the work relationship of gig economy workers, but still paying attention to the local context," said Agung.

The online driver community conveyed five main aspirations.

First, asking the Indonesian Ministry of Transportation to increase the tariff by 10 percent because for three years there was no increase.

Second, drivers want the status of workers, employment social security, and a legal umbrella as workers.

Aspiration third, drivers hope that Korlantas Polri will provide a legal umbrella related to safety factors in each region.

Fourth, they asked for a knock on the hammer to lower the app tax from 20 percent to 10 percent.

Finally, they demanded that the state be present to provide protection to people with online driver disabilities.