The Indonesian Transportation Workers Union (SPAI) has expressed concerns about platform commissions reaching up to 70% in some instances, especially in food and goods delivery.

SPAI has called on the Ministry of Transportation to limit platform commissions for passenger transport services to 10%.

The Ministry of Communication and Digital (Komdigi) did not respond when asked for comments on revenue differences between drivers and platforms.

To address the issue, the Indonesian Ministry of Transportation (Kemenhub) has clarified its regulations regarding online motorcycle taxi fares, following claims from associations about excessive commission cuts by platform operators.

Director General of Land Transportation at Kemenhub Aan Suhanan said during a press conference on July 2, 2025, that the ministry regulates only fare limits and service fees.

Service fees for ojek online services are capped at 20%. This includes a maximum 15% commission for the platform and an additional 5% for driver welfare support, which covers insurance and operational assistance.

🔗 Source: Katadata

🧠 Food for thought

1️⃣ Indonesia’s ride-hailing regulations reflect a decade-long balancing act

The current commission dispute mirrors a historical pattern of regulatory evolution in Indonesia’s ride-hailing industry since its inception.

When Go-Jek first launched in 2010 as a small call center connecting just 20 drivers to passengers, the regulatory framework was virtually non-existent 1.

By 2015, the government briefly banned motorcycle taxi apps entirely before President Joko Widodo personally intervened within 12 hours, stating “as long as the people need it, I think there is no problem” 23.

This pattern of reactive regulation continued with the 2019 implementation of tariff controls specifically targeting ride-hailing services in major cities, setting minimum fares to address driver compensation concerns 4.

The current dispute over the 70% commission on food deliveries versus the 20% cap on ride-hailing reflects how regulations have developed unevenly across different segments of the same platforms, with transportation receiving clearer protections than newer services.

This regulatory fragmentation between ministries, with Kemenhub overseeing transportation and Komdigi handling digital services, creates enforcement gaps that platforms can potentially exploit.

2️⃣ Gig workers face significant economic vulnerabilities despite platform growth