House Commission V Agrees to Online Taxi Fare Cuts Below 10%, Appreciates Prabowo
Deputy Chairman of House Commission V, Syaiful Huda, has welcomed President Prabowo Subianto’s directive calling for online taxi (ojol) platform fees to be kept below 10 per cent. Huda urged the Minister of Transport to promptly issue new regulations on these fees.
“We must welcome and appreciate President Prabowo’s firm statement at the International Labour Day commemoration at Monas today. The President clearly stated that ojol platform fees must be below 10 per cent,” Huda told reporters on Saturday (2/5/2026).
“This political statement is a real show of support from the Head of State for online app-based transport workers in Indonesia,” he added.
Huda said that House Commission V’s position on ojol platform fees has long aligned with the President’s. The commission, he noted, has long requested that fees taken by platforms not exceed 10 per cent.
“In various working meetings, hearings, and deliberations with the Ministry of Transport and relevant stakeholders, Commission V has consistently stated that the appropriate fee for platforms should not exceed 10 per cent, and even encouraged it to be lower,” he said.
Furthermore, Huda stated that the current 20 per cent fee must be corrected, as it does not favour ojol drivers.
“The 20 per cent fee scheme that has been in place is a structural injustice that must be rectified, and it degrades the dignity and livelihood of online app-based motorcycle taxi drivers. So, this is not new for us. It’s a kind of déjà vu that is very relieving, yet concerning, because we should have resolved this issue much sooner,” said Huda.
Huda explained that there has been a wide implementation gap between policy recommendations and regulatory execution. He noted that the desire to revise the old Transport Ministerial Regulation, which sets the 20 per cent fee, has been repeatedly voiced in official House forums.
“However, to this day, more accommodating and driver-friendly regulations have not been born. There are several factors we must honestly acknowledge: First, strong pressure from the app ecosystem. Platforms are not just local tech companies; they are regional-scale business entities with complex financial structures,” he stated.
“The 20 per cent fee is not just pure profit; it also supports operational costs, technology development, consumer promo subsidies, and investor-demanded profitability. Whenever regulatory discussions intensify, pushback from this ecosystem is always felt,” he added.
Huda further noted that if the government unilaterally pressures fees without a comprehensive regulatory framework, there is a risk of competitive distortion or even investment relocation threats. He believes this is often used as an argument for delays by certain parties.
“Third, weak inter-ministerial coordination. This issue is not just the Transport Ministry’s concern. It falls under the Coordinating Ministry for the Economy, the Manpower Ministry from a labour perspective, and the Digital Ministry from a digital ecosystem viewpoint. This fragmentation of authority slows decision-making,” said Huda.
Until now, Huda said, there has been no strong political will to change these fees. Therefore, he added, Prabowo must intervene.
“Fourth, and this we must honestly admit: there has not been sufficient political will to force this regulatory change to happen sooner, until the President’s statement today,” he concluded.
Urges Transport Minister to Issue New Regulations Promptly
Huda hopes that Prabowo’s directive will be immediately executed by the ministries. He urged the Transport Minister to quickly release the latest regulations on ojol fees.
“We will ask the Minister of Transport to take immediate steps. Promptly issue a new Transport Ministerial Regulation that explicitly limits platform fees to a maximum below 10 per cent, as a derivative of Presidential Regulation No. 27/2026. There is no need to wait long; the draft regulation should already be on the Transport Ministry’s desk,” he said.
He also called for audits and transparency regarding platform revenue structures. Commission V of the House, Huda said, will conduct oversight.
“Establish audit mechanisms and transparency for platform revenue structures, so that the actual fees collected can be independently verified. Until now, there has been no adequate transparency obligation. Involve the House in implementation oversight; Commission V is ready to hold a special deliberation with the Transport Ministry and platforms in the near future to ensure the President’s directive does not stop at speeches,” he stated.
Urges Platforms to Respond Seriously
To the platforms, Huda urged them to take Prabowo’s directive seriously. He said that ojol drivers must be respected for sustaining the business ecosystem.
“To the platforms, we state firmly: the President’s directive today is not just political rhetoric on the May Day stage. This is a policy signal that must be responded to seriously. Respect the drivers who have sustained the online transport business ecosystem; their sweat is the foundation for the growth and development of online transport business valuation,” he said.
Huda hopes that the directive on ojol fees will not be just a momentary euphoria. He said Commission V of the House will ensure the regulations are promptly established.
“We have repeatedly witnessed moments where statements of support for ojol drivers gain attention, then slowly fade without follow-up. Commission V of the House of Representatives will not allow that to happen again,” Huda explained.
“We will make this issue a priority oversight agenda in the upcoming session period. The President’s directive today is a rare political window, and Commission V of the House of Representatives is obligated to ensure this momentum is translated into concrete regulations that favour millions of ojol drivers across Indonesia,” he concluded.