A large-scale protest by online taxi drivers is starting in Indonesia. From 00:00 to 23:59 on 20 May 2025, around 500,000 drivers across the country plan to demonstratively decline orders for passenger transport and delivery of food and goods via applications.
The main protests will take place in Jakarta, where drivers will not only reject orders for the day but also hold demonstrations at several locations, including the Merdeka Palace, the Ministry of Transport, and the Parliament. It is expected to be the largest taxi driver protest in Indonesia, with more than 25,000 people having confirmed their participation.
To ensure safety, Jakarta police will change traffic patterns and escort columns of protesters arriving from the suburbs. Residents have been advised to avoid protest areas to avoid traffic jams. The street protest will begin at 13:00 local time and continue until the taxi drivers' demands are met.
The protest is organized by the Garda Indonesia Association of Online Taxi Drivers with the support of the Indonesian Transport Workers Union (SPAI). The main goal is to protest against the actions of aggregator companies, which drivers believe are operating in violation of regulations.
“The mass shutdown across Indonesia is our form of protest against the unfair working conditions we encounter daily. These conditions continue to drain the strength of online taxi drivers,” said SPAI chairwoman Lily Pujiati.
Drivers claim that existing fares do not provide them with decent earnings. For example, for a food delivery, the client pays 18,000 rupiah, of which the driver receives only 5,200 rupiah. Aggregators withhold up to 70% of the order value, even though by law, the commission should not exceed 20%. Therefore, SPAI supports the demand to reduce it to 10% or abolish it entirely. Additionally, the union demands a clear and fair explanation of fares for passenger transport, goods delivery, and food delivery from the platforms.
Protesters are also against priority order distribution programs, which they believe create unequal working conditions. Drivers demand social guarantees such as insurance and pension contributions, as well as recognition of them as official employees rather than partners.
Taxi drivers are also concerned about the possible merger of major operators such as Gojek and Grab. They believe this could lead to market monopolization and further deterioration of working conditions.
The protest will affect all major cities in Indonesia. Most likely, there will be disruptions in app services in Bali as well. Therefore, it is better to plan trips in advance. Alternatively, you can try ordering through different apps or negotiate with traditional taxi drivers on site.
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