Government Warned Against Hasty Regulation of Marketplace Admin Fees
JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - The government has begun highlighting the size of admin fees on marketplaces, which are seen as increasingly burdensome for micro, small, and medium enterprises (UMKM). Discussions on regulating these fees are now being prepared through new regulations to ensure a more balanced relationship between digital platforms and business actors.
However, amid the government’s intervention plans, several researchers and economists are reminding that policies should not be made hastily, as they could affect the growing digital economic climate.
“Admin fees must be viewed as a consequence of the need to maintain the sustainability of the digital ecosystem, not immediately seen as a form of oppression against UMKM,” said Praxa Institute researcher Hardy Hermawan in his statement on Saturday (9/5/2026).
“So if, for example, e-commerce A wants to implement marketing fee withdrawals and so on to merchants or UMKM, it should be left to market mechanisms. That’s the case for now,” said Maman in a working meeting with Commission VII of the DPR RI in Central Jakarta on Tuesday (20/1/2026).
Therefore, the government is now preparing derivative regulations in the form of a Minister’s Regulation (Permen) that will serve as the basis for regulating admin fees on digital platforms. The government is also reviewing Law No. 20 of 2008 on UMKM and Government Regulation No. 7 of 2021.
“Well, this is what we are preparing. The regulation through the Permen that we will make,” said Maman.
According to him, the government’s presence is needed so that the fees imposed on UMKM remain in line with the capabilities of small business actors.
“That means, for UMKM that we consider indeed need affirmative action from the government, please, in terms of price, marketing fees and so on, they must also be calculated according to capacity,” added Maman.
According to him, when platforms start pursuing business sustainability, the cost structure becomes more rational.
Hardy also assesses that the pressure on business actors currently does not only come from marketplaces. He mentioned increases in cost of goods sold (COGS), fluctuations in the rupiah exchange rate, and operational costs also press sellers’ margins.
“If all economic pressures are directed only at digital platforms, then the discussion becomes too simplistic,” he said.
“Marketplaces have built trust infrastructure that has been difficult for small and medium sellers to establish on their own,” said Hardy.
Therefore, he warns the government not to get trapped in populist policies that could have counterproductive impacts on investment and the sustainability of the national digital economy.
“If interventions are carried out too far, the impact could be counterproductive to the investment climate and the sustainability of the national digital economy,” he said.