10 Ojol Unions Plan Rally at Transportation Ministry, Call for Nationwide App Shutdown

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Ten driver unions of online ride-hailing (online taxi) or ojol companies will stage a rally at the Ministry of Transportation on Tuesday afternoon, 20 May. The protest is expected to attract thousands of drivers from various apps.

The unions include the Indonesian Transport Workers' Union (SPAI), Indonesian Drivers' Democracy Union (SDPI), Two-Wheeled Transport Drivers Union (Serdadu), Indonesian Transport Drivers Union (Sepeta), United Maluku-Nusantara Workers Union (SPBMN), Digital and Transport Aerospace Workers Union (SPDT), Indonesian Transport Union (STI), Online Drivers Union (SPEED), Online Platform Drivers Union (SPPD), and Indonesian Online Drivers Union (SePOI).

SPAI chairperson Lily Pujiati said the protest carries several demands, including legal protections for drivers and fulfillment of social security guarantees. "There will be around 2,000 to 3,000 participants," Lily told Tempo on Monday, 19 May.

The demonstration will begin at 12:00 at the ministry's office in Jakarta. Outside the capital, online taxi drivers will join in by turning off their apps in a coordinated mass "off-bid" action nationwide. "It will be simultaneous across the country," Lily said.

The protest will not be limited to Jakarta, but will also take place in major cities including Surabaya, Yogyakarta, Semarang, Solo, Bandung, Sukabumi, Lampung, Medan, Palembang, and Dumai. "We drivers are increasingly oppressed under the platform companies' partner status," Lily said.

In response, Grab Indonesia's Chief of Public Affairs Tirza Munusamy said the company does not have any policy to hinder the protests. "Everyone has the right to express their opinions through demonstrations," Tirza said.

Grab has prepared mitigation efforts to minimize service disruption amid the app shutdown calls, ensuring customers continue to receive rides. "We respect that right and have worked to keep services and operations running normally tomorrow," Tirza said during a discussion in Pakubuwono, South Jakarta, on Monday, 19 May.

Aware of potential delays and disruptions due to the app shutdown, Tirza apologized to Grab users for any inconvenience during the protests. "If there are delays, notifications will be sent. If a ride or order is canceled, it will be automatically reassigned," she added.

Similarly, PT GoTo Gojek Tokopedia Tbk. assured that Gojek's operations will continue as usual despite the demonstrations and calls for a mass app shutdown. Chief of Public Policy & Government Relations Ade Mulya emphasized their commitment to maintaining a safe, comfortable, and productive ecosystem for both drivers and customers.

"Regarding reports of possible service disruptions due to the planned demonstrations on 20 May 2025, we confirm that Gojek's operations will run normally and customers can use our services as usual," Ade said in a written statement on Monday, 19 May.

Editor’s Choice: Online Taxi Drivers to Disable App Today, Here is Grab's Anticipation Step

Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News

Gojek Assures Business as Usual Despite Ojol Drivers' Planned Mass Protest

1 jam lalu

Online Taxi Drivers to Stage Mass Protest Today; Palace Responds

2 jam lalu

Online Taxi Drivers to Disable App Today, Here is Grab's Anticipation Step

5 jam lalu

Here's Why Grab Refuses to Allow Online Taxi Drivers to Become Permanent Employees

6 jam lalu

May 20 App Shutdown: Gojek, Grab, and Maxim Claim Not to Have Violated Rules

6 jam lalu

Today's Top 3 News: Grab, Gojek, and Maxim Online Taxi Drivers Will Shut Down Apps on May 20

13 jam lalu

Breaking Down the Demands of Online Motorcycle Taxi Drivers Ahead of Mass Protest

14 jam lalu

Massive Protests Planned by 500,000 Online Motorcycle Taxi Drivers on May 20

19 jam lalu

Today's Top 3 News: SPAI Rejects Grab-GoTo Merger Over Monopoly Concerns, Drivers' Earnings Decline

1 hari lalu

Grab, Gojek, and Maxim Online Taxi Drivers Will Shut Down Apps on May 20

1 hari lalu