Online Drivers Worry About Pertamina Employee Strike Action Plan

PT Pertamina (Persero) head office in Jakarta, Indonesia (Source: Antara)

JAKARTA - The Online Drivers Association (ADO) is concerned that the strike action plan for PT Pertamina (Persero) employees who are members of the United Pertamina Workers Union Federation (FSPPB) from 29 December 2021 to 7 January 2022 will have an impact on online drivers.

"We regret the planned strike action. Their actions will certainly have an impact on the wider community, including us, online drivers," said ADO Chairperson Taha Syarafil in a statement in Jakarta, Sunday, December 26.

He said the threat of strike action by the Pertamina workers union was feared to have an impact on Pertamina's services, including fuel oil (BBM). If that happens, tens of thousands of online drivers' fate will be uncertain.

The man who is familiarly called Ariel hopes that there will be a dialogue between the workers and Pertamina management, because the strike that will be carried out by the unions will not solve the problem, but will increase the problem.

"The union should think, so that Pertamina's revenue performance will improve. Not strike action," he said.

According to him, FSPPB should be grateful because the welfare level of Pertamina's employees is much higher than other institutions, and even differs greatly from the income of online drivers who will be affected by the action.

The average income of online drivers, he continued, is only Rp. 150 thousand-Rp. 200 thousand per day. If it is calculated, online drivers only bring home an income of Rp. 80 thousand, even in some areas, the driver's income is below the minimum wage.

"The Christmas and New Year holidays are the hope of online drivers to earn more. If they take action, our work will be disrupted. What will happen to us and our families," said Taha.

According to him, the association he leads has more than 10,000 members spread across 16 provinces, where in the Jakarta area there are around 1,500 online driver members, both two-wheeled or four-wheeled.

Regarding the very large income of Pertamina's employees, justified by Commission VI member of the House of Representatives, Deddy Yevri Sitorus, where they can get 20 take homepays or the equivalent of 39 times their basic salary.