Prabowo Claims Indonesian Ojol Drivers’ Income Tripled After App Fee Cut to 8%

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto announced that earnings for online motorcycle taxi drivers, known locally as ojol, have surged significantly following a government-backed reduction in platform application fees. According to official statements reported by iNews.id, drivers are now taking home up to three times their previous income after authorities intervened to lower app cuts from 20 percent to 8 percent.

The policy adjustment shifts the revenue split so that platform operators keep only 8 percent of each transaction, leaving drivers with 92 percent of their earnings. Speaking during the MPR Annual Session at the parliamentary complex in Jakarta on Friday, August 14, 2026, the president detailed how the change directly impacts daily workers across the country, as noted by IDXChannel.

“Tadinya pengemudi ojol hanya dapat 80 persen dari upaya kerja mereka karena aplikator minta 20 persen,” Prabowo stated during the joint legislative session. “Tapi dengan rekomendasi pemerintah, saya nggak mau sebut intervensi, saya pakai istilah rekomendasi, tapi sebetulnya ya agak intervensi juga.”

Policy Implementation and Regulatory Framework

The push to restructure ride-hailing fees first emerged publicly during International Workers’ Day celebrations on May 1, 2026, when the administration signaled plans to ease financial pressures on platform workers. That announcement translated into Peraturan Presiden (Perpres) Nomor 27 Tahun 2026 tentang Perlindungan Pekerja Transportasi Online, establishing legal protections and fee caps for online transport workers.

Following the formal issuance of the presidential regulation, transportation authorities and app operators agreed on an effective implementation date of July 1, 2026. However, the transition period introduced practical hurdles on the ground. Ministry of Transportation officials acknowledged that many drivers initially struggled to calculate earnings correctly under the new formula, prompting calls for platform companies to provide clearer guidance.

Minister of Transportation Dudy Purwagandhi addressed implementation challenges at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta, noting that authorities instructed operators to improve communication with their fleets. “Memang masih ada perbedaan penafsiran gitu ya dari teman-teman ojol menghitungnya seperti apa. Kita minta supaya aplikator untuk menjelaskan lebih banyak lagi kepada teman-teman,” Dudy said following discussions in early July 2026.

Economic Strategy and Platform Labor

The administration frames the revised fee structure as part of a broader effort to strengthen grassroots economic activity and support digital platform workers. By bolstering incomes for millions of gig economy participants, the government aims to stimulate domestic consumption within the micro, small, and medium enterprise (MSME) sector.

“Karena kekuatan ekonomi kita ada di UMKM, kita juga telah mengatur pembagian hasil yang lebih adil bagi pengemudi-pengemudi ojek online dan aplikator,” Prabowo explained, emphasizing the link between platform labor reforms and broader national economic resilience.

Further regulatory updates regarding digital transport worker protections and MSME integration are expected as government ministries review the ongoing implementation of Perpres No. 27/2026. Readers are encouraged to share their thoughts or experiences regarding the new tariff rules in the comments below.