President Prabowo Subianto (second left) talks with Gojek CEO Patrick Walujo (right) and Gojek driver representatives after making a statement on holiday allowances (THR) at the State Palace in Jakarta on Monday, March 10, 2025. President Prabowo announced ojol (online motorcycle taxi drivers) will get their THR on Idul Fitri this year. The amount of their bonuses is still being discussed by ministries and related parties. - Photo: Antara
JAKARTA: President Prabowo Subianto has called on ride-hailing companies, particularly homegrown Gojek and Singapore-based Grab, to grant a holiday bonus for online drivers and couriers working for the platform ahead of the Idul Fitri (Hari Raya Aidilfitri) celebrations later this March.
He emphasised that the “bonus” should be given in cash and based on the drivers' level of activity on the platform.
"This year, the government is paying special attention to online drivers and couriers, who play a crucial role in supporting Indonesia's transportation and logistics sector," Prabowo said on Monday (March 10).
He noted that approximately 250,000 drivers and couriers actively work with ride-hailing platforms on a full-time basis, while another 1.5 million people take on such roles as part timers.
"As for the bonus amount and the disbursement process, details will be announced later by the manpower minister through an official circular," the President added.
Ride-hailing companies have never recognised drivers and couriers as employees, referring to them instead as “partners”, which exempts them from responsibilities stipulated by the Manpower Law, including providing holiday allowances worth a month’s salary.
Previously, the government mulled introducing a rule that would require ride-hailing companies to provide holiday allowances for their partners similar to those of formal workers, but in early March it toned down the plan into a simple bonus.
In response to the call, Grab announced that it would provide support through a special performance bonus programme, which would be distributed in accordance to the company’s financial capacity.
The firm emphasised that this bonus was an additional benefit beyond the regular incentives drivers receive.
It will be determined by various factors, including driver activity, completed orders, online hours and performance ratings.
"The best service comes from the dedication of our active driver partners who complete orders every day.
"This bonus programme is designed to fairly reward them, ensuring that the benefits reflect their activity, contributions and achievements," Grab Indonesia’s country managing director Neneng Goenadi said in a statement on Monday.
Meanwhile, Gojek has also committed to providing additional support through its tali asih (award dues) programme.
The bonus will be disbursed in cash before Idul Fitri as a gesture of goodwill to assist its driver partners, in line with the company’s financial capacity, according to the firm.
"We recognise that Ramadan is a special time, but it also presents challenges for our driver partners.
"This year, we have designed [a programme] that is even more special than in previous years," said Gojek president Catherine Hindra Sutjahyo on Monday.
Maxim Indonesia, meanwhile, said on March 7 that the company did not have enough financial room to provide its partners with a holiday allowance, but offered to provide them with staple food aid, a temporary reduction of the company’s commission taken from drivers, as well as compensation for drivers involved in an accident, as quoted from detikfinance.
Manpower Minister Yassierli, however, told reporters on March 10 that he urged all ride-hailing companies to follow the President’s instruction, as quoted from Bisnis.com.
The Indonesian Transportation Workers Union (SPAI) has urged both the government and ride-hailing companies to extend holiday bonuses to all driver partners, regardless of their activity level.
SPAI chairman Lily Pujiati said on Monday that ride-hailing companies had begun notifying select high-performing drivers about special performance-based bonuses, determined by factors such as activity levels, online hours and ratings, but she described such practices as unfair, as reported by Bisnis.com.
Driver organisations are advocating for a shift in status from independent partners to formal employees, which would grant them regular wages and benefits like THR.
However, ride-hailing companies continue to defend the “partnership” model.
During a hearing with House of Representatives Commission V on Wednesday, they reiterated their stance, pushing for stronger legal recognition of this arrangement in the future. - The Jakarta Post/ANN
