“Workers Lose as Indonesian Laws Can’t Keep Pace With Rideshare Apps”

…But regulations governing the app-based sector have struggled to keep up. Workers have few or no rights. They have no sick leave or holidays. And they’re working longer hours for less pay.

Gig platforms have mushroomed in Indonesia in the past decade, from super apps like Gojek and Grab to more specific apps like Shopee Food, Maxim, or InDrive to local platforms like Jogja Kita. Ride-hailing and food delivery dominate…

…Regulations were later put in place, with the Ministry of Transportation issuing rules in 2018 and in 2019.

Although both platforms and workers consider these a “victory” as they provide legitimacy and a regulatory framework for the ride-hailing business, both regulations are limited in substance.

…these regulations focus more on the responsibilities of the workers than the platforms’ responsibilities…

…the main problem with these regulations is they do not solve the central issue regarding gig workers’ welfare and working conditions. Gig workers in Indonesia are not considered workers but “partners.” This means they do not have legal protections, as the Manpower Law does not apply to them. They are instead bound in “partnership relations,” or hubungan kemitraan, relations in which legal protections are almost non-existent…