TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Tempo English compiled the top 3 news on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. Here are the highlights: Here's Why Grab Refuses to Allow Online Taxi Drivers to Become Permanent Employees; Grab, Gojek, and Maxim Online Taxi Drivers Will Shut Down Apps on May 20; and Grab Indonesia Rejects Drivers' Request to Lower Commission Cuts.
The following is the list of the top 3 news on Tempo English today:
1. Here's Why Grab Refuses to Allow Online Taxi Drivers to Become Permanent Employees
Grab Indonesia considers the status of online motorcycle taxi drivers or Ojol cannot be changed to permanent employees because it could have a broad impact. Chief of Public Affairs Grab Indonesia, Tirza R Munusamy, stated that if the partner's status is changed to employee, the number of Ojol drivers would drastically decrease. This is because employee status would bind the application with drivers in fulfilling rights and obligations. Meanwhile, the company has limited ability to fulfill the rights of the millions of Ojol drivers.
"The company cannot absorb such a large number of employees. Where would the rest go?" said Tirza during a meeting with Minister of Transportation, Dudy Purwagandhi, in Central Jakarta on Monday, May 19, 2025.
2. Grab, Gojek, and Maxim Online Taxi Drivers Will Shut Down Apps on May 20
The Indonesian Transport Workers Union (SPAI) along with online motorcycle taxi drivers, online taxis, and couriers will conduct a demonstration on Tuesday, May 20, 2025. SPAI also calls for a mass 'off bid' action or turning off the application during the demonstration.
"This is a coalition action of labor unions and communities," said SPAI Chair Lily Pujiati when contacted on Sunday, May 18, 2025.
The action will take place in the Indonesian Ministry of Transportation area. Lily said the demonstration would be joined by about 1,000 people.
The demonstration participants are from communities in several areas such as Jakarta, Tangerang, and Yogyakarta.
3. Grab Indonesia Rejects Drivers' Request to Lower Commission Cuts
Hundreds of online motorcycle taxis or online ojek drivers, including those from Grab, gathered in the Horse Statue area of Jakarta on Tuesday afternoon, May 20, 2025. They held a protest demanding that application providers reduce their commission cuts, which they deem excessively high. The protest began at 1:00 PM local time, with drivers voicing their demands from three command vehicles.
The drivers urged application companies to decrease the commission cut from 20 percent to 10 percent. According to a speaker addressing the crowd via megaphone, the current fee structure negatively impacts drivers' incomes nationwide.
Einstein Dialektika, Secretary General of the Indonesian Online Drivers Union (Sepoi), affirmed that the demand for a reduced application fee cut is necessary, as the current system is detrimental to drivers. He also called on the government to enact legal protections to safeguard motorcycle taxi workers from various vulnerabilities. "Many regulations make it difficult for motorcycle taxi drivers," Einstein stated at the protest site.
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Mass Online Ojek Strike Costs Rp188bn in Daily Transactions, Researcher Estimates
36 menit lalu
A researcher from IDEAS estimated that the national strike of online ojek drivers led to a loss of up to Rp188 billion in daily transactions.
Grab Indonesia Rejects Drivers' Request to Lower Commission Cuts
19 jam lalu
Hundreds of online motorcycle taxis or online ojek drivers, including those from Grab, staged a protest on Tuesday afternoon, May 20, 2025.
East Java Online Taxi Drivers Protest with Five Demands 'Not to Be Negotiated'
21 jam lalu
If online taxi drivers' demands are ignored, further protests involving even more participants will be staged for two to three consecutive days.
Today's Top 3 News: Grab, Gojek, and Maxim Online Taxi Drivers Will Shut Down Apps, A Closer Look at Adam Lambert's Net Worth
1 hari lalu
Here is the list of the top 3 news on Tempo English today.
Gojek Rejects Demand for Drivers' Permanent Status, Stresses Flexibility in Work
1 hari lalu
SPAI views the partner status as a strategy for the applications to avoid responsibility for the rights of drivers as regulated in the Labor Law.
House to Hold Hearing with Online Motorcycle Taxi Drivers Following Mass Protest
1 hari lalu
House highlighted that the absence of regulations for online motorcycle taxi drivers has made it difficult to accommodate their demands.
Transportation Minister Responds to Ojol Drivers' Demands to Lower Commission to 10 Percent
1 hari lalu
According to the Minister of Transportation, the aspirations of online motorcycle taxi (ojol) companies must be accommodated to ensure the sustainability of the online transportation ecosystem.
10 Ojol Unions Plan Rally at Transportation Ministry, Call for Nationwide App Shutdown
1 hari lalu
Ten driver unions of online ride-hailing or ojol companies will stage a rally at the Ministry of Transportation on Tuesday afternoon, 20 May.
Gojek Assures Business as Usual Despite Ojol Drivers' Planned Mass Protest
1 hari lalu
Customers can still use Gojek services as usual today, as ojol drivers plan mass offbid action.
Online Taxi Drivers to Stage Mass Protest Today; Palace Responds
1 hari lalu
Ojol drivers plan to stage a mass protest on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, starting at 1:00 p.m., raising several demands, including revenue sharing.
