Celios: Ojol SME status must continue to protect partners' rights on platforms
They gain clarity of status, so that the form of partnership can be clearly promoted, including the provision of social protection.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Center of Economic and Law Studies (Celios) economist Nailul Huda said that clarity on the status of online motorcycle taxi (ojol) drivers as partners or micro, small and medium enterprises (UMKM) must not reduce their rights in carrying out partnerships with platform companies.
According to him, clarity of status is precisely needed so that the relationship between drivers and platforms has firmer rules, including regarding fair tariffs, equitable treatment, work flexibility and social protection.
“If referring to partnership, then UMKM status is indeed the closest. They gain clarity of status, so that the form of partnership can be clearly promoted, including the provision of social protection,” Huda told ANTARA in Jakarta on Friday.
Huda said that the position of ojol drivers, which is currently in a grey area, means that regulation of the relationship between platforms and partners is not yet optimal. Therefore, the government needs to provide clarity on the status as well as the boundaries of the cooperation patterns that can be applied.
This clarity is also considered important from the perspective of drivers’ economic welfare. With clearer status and partnership relations, regulation of tariffs, work flexibility and social protection will be easier to strengthen.
“Welfare can also be properly organised once this clarity of status is resolved. Regarding the amount of tariffs, work flexibility and social protection, it will be easier to push if there is a ministry that clearly oversees it,” he said.
Currently, the issue of online transport drivers intersects with a number of ministries, from the Ministry of Manpower and the Ministry of Transportation to the ministry responsible for UMKM. This situation is considered to need clarification so that protection for partners can be carried out in a more integrated manner.
On the other hand, differences of opinion regarding the status of drivers as partners or workers should not eliminate their basic rights.
“Whether partner or worker or UMKM, the right to obtain fair tariffs, fair treatment and social protection,” he said.
According to him, the concept of an equal partnership must be the main principle in the relationship between platforms and drivers. Thus, status as UMKM or partner can still provide room for work flexibility without sacrificing drivers’ rights and economic welfare.