Jakarta, VIVA \u2013 The latest data from the National Labour Force Survey\n(Sakernas) by the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) for August 2025 shows\nthat a significant proportion of workers spend far beyond reasonable\nworking hours (overwork), exceeding 49 hours per week. The figure\nreaches 25 per cent of Indonesia\u2019s total workforce of 146.59 million\npeople.<\/p>\n
The ILO Convention stipulates that the maximum reasonable working\nhours are 40 hours per week. Overtime regulations permitted under Law\nNo.\u00a06 of 2023 in conjunction with Government Regulation No.\u00a035 of 2015\nallow a maximum of four hours per day. Workers in the formal sector are\nalready protected by these provisions.<\/p>\n
However, the overwork phenomenon predominantly affects informal and\ngig workers such as ride-hailing (ojek online) drivers. In other words,\noverwork is not driven by job demands but rather by income needs \u2014\nworkers put in longer hours to earn additional income.<\/p>\n
\u201cExcessive working hours are a symptom of their low earnings,\u201d said\nHouse of Representatives Commission IX member Pulung Agustanto in a\nwritten statement on Monday, 16 February 2026.<\/p>\n
He argued that this phenomenon should not be taken lightly, as\nexcessive work will lead to declining productivity in the future,\nincluding adverse effects on workers\u2019 health.<\/p>\n
Pulung highlighted ride-hailing drivers as gig workers whose earnings\nhave been steadily declining.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo meet their needs, online drivers are forced to work beyond normal\nhours. Platforms profit whilst workers must bear all the risks,\u201d Pulung\nsaid.<\/p>\n
In Pulung\u2019s view, the emergence of independent workers tied to\ndigital platforms such as ride-hailing drivers has dramatically reduced\nunemployment figures.<\/p>\n
\u201cHowever, the role of the government and platforms in providing\nsocial security for online drivers remains limited. Even where platforms\noffer assistance, it is still charitable in nature,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Pulung acknowledged the efforts of one platform that has provided\nsocial security for its drivers.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut the number of drivers receiving it is still far from the total,\u201d\nhe noted.<\/p>\n
According to Pulung\u2019s records, of 1.7 million drivers, fewer than 20\nper cent receive such benefits from the platform.<\/p>\n
Given the large number of workers in this category, the government\nneeds to develop specific regulations to ensure fairness for this type\nof worker.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe ride-hailing work ecosystem needs to be restructured to be more\nequitable. Going forward, regulations must be created to provide\nprotection for workers of this kind, rather than relying on the goodwill\nof platforms,\u201d he said.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/house-commission-ix-member-proposes-restructuring-of-ride-hailing-ecosystem-1771308045", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }