Jakarta Ride-Hailing Drivers' Complaints During Eid Exodus: Orders Dry Up, Incomes Plummet

JAKARTA - Several online motorcycle taxi (ojol) drivers in Central Jakarta and surrounding areas are complaining about the scarcity of passengers during the Eid al-Fitr homecoming period in 2026. This condition has directly impacted a decline in daily income, which is said to reach up to 50 per cent.

Muhammad Zaki (46), an ojol driver in the Monas Intersection area, Central Jakarta, said the drop in the number of passengers has been felt since the beginning of the fasting month. “Normally, during the day many people go out, but now it’s reduced. It’s only busy during rush hours. It’s down by about 50 per cent today,” Zaki said when met at the location on Friday (20/3/2026).

Entering the Eid homecoming period, the situation has become even quieter. Zaki mentioned that many drivers and passengers alike are returning to their hometowns, so the number of orders has become more limited. “From 08.00 to 16.30, I’ve only got six passengers. Fortunately, the distances are quite far, so there’s still some income,” he said.

In fact, before the homecoming period, he could get around 15 to 20 orders per day with working hours divided between mornings and evenings until night. “Now there’s no congestion. It’s only busy at certain points like Jatinegara Market and Pulo Jahe Market as Eid approaches,” he said.

He predicted that this relatively empty road condition would last until the third or fourth day of Eid.

Besides the scarcity of orders, Zaki also complained about the frequent cancellations of bookings by passengers, even when the driver is already approaching the pickup location. “Sometimes we’ve already travelled 3 to 4 kilometres to pick up, but suddenly it’s cancelled. That’s also a complaint now,” he said.

Similar complaints were voiced by Insanul (25), an ojol driver in the Gondangdia Station area, Central Jakarta. He admitted to only getting one passenger from morning to afternoon.