Two million jobless motorbike drivers show Covid’s toll on Indonesia’s gig economy

A file photo of Gojek driver helmets in Jakarta, Indonesia. Roughly 40% of the country’s estimated five million ojek drivers have lost their jobs in the pandemic. — Reuters

Millions of sidelined motorcycle taxi drivers in Indonesia are bracing for a long recovery as the country’s coronavirus outbreak shows no signs of abating.

The taxis – known locally as “ojek” – are a fixture in congested Indonesian cities where transport infrastructure is limited and gridlock is among the worst in the world. They’re also the inspiration for Indonesia’s most valuable startup, the ride-hailing and food-delivery app Gojek.