Legislator Highlights Fate of Ride-Hailing Drivers, Pushes for More Concrete Regulations
A member of Commission V of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI), Sofwan Dedy Ardyanto, is pushing for the Hearing of General Opinions (RDPU) related to the drafting of the Freelance Workers Bill, the Indonesian Platform Bill, and the Gig Economy Workers Protection Bill to be used as an important momentum to consolidate various parties in advocating for protection for online motorcycle taxi (ojol) drivers.
“This moment we make into an arena for consolidation. Consolidation,” said Sofwan during the RDPU agenda of the DPR RI Legislation Body (Baleg) at the Nusantara I Building, Senayan, Jakarta, quoted on Monday (6/4).
According to Sofwan, various dynamics in the field, including actions and aspirations of ojol drivers, have received serious attention from the DPR RI. These aspirations are now being followed up through several available legislative channels.
The PDI legislator emphasised that the discussion of these draft laws cannot be separated from the real conditions of gig economy workers who have so far lacked comprehensive legal protection.
“The struggle of our friends yesterday was not in vain, because it has been followed up through the existing channels. Therefore, today’s momentum also becomes a consolidation of information,” he said.
Sofwan affirmed that the RDPU forum should not only serve as a platform for conveying aspirations but also be utilised to unify perspectives and strengthen the substance of proposals from various parties. In this way, the legislative process can proceed more directed and produce targeted regulations.
He also encouraged ojol driver communities, related organisations, and academics to provide more specific inputs in the form of legal norm formulations so that they can be directly followed up by the DPR RI Legislation Body (Baleg).
“If earlier we heard a lot of heartfelt contents. We need formulations of norms like what. Just convey them to Baleg, then they will be formulated,” he explained.
Furthermore, Sofwan stressed the importance of collaboration among parties in drafting regulations that are not only responsive to field needs but also have clear legal strength and can be effectively implemented.
According to him, without concrete formulations, the aspirations conveyed risk being difficult to realise into effective policies. He invited all parties, including driver communities and academics, to utilise the RDPU as a space for consolidation while compiling more detailed and ready-to-implement policy proposals.
This approach, he concluded, will facilitate the DPR RI Baleg in formulating regulations that are responsive to public aspirations, have strong legal certainty, and can be effectively implemented in the field.