Ojol to Be Treated as Micro Enterprises in Digital Transport Regulation
Minister of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Maman Abdurrahman has revealed that the Presidential Regulation (Perpres) on the Digital Transport Ecosystem will provide economic benefits to online motorcycle taxi drivers, known as ojol.
“God willing, when the Perpres is issued, it will hopefully serve as a positive step and a sign of the government’s good faith to genuinely encourage and provide the widest possible opportunity for the online transport ecosystem to grow and remain sustainable in the future,” Maman said in an online address from Jakarta on Tuesday (11/8).
“This regulation can also provide economic benefits to all parties, particularly to our online motorcycle taxi friends across the country,” he added.
According to him, the Perpres will establish a policy framework whose fundamental principle is to keep the ecosystem healthy. “All of this is intended to give ojol friends the opportunity to advance and develop. And I believe it is almost certain that ojol drivers will be treated as micro businesses in carrying out their activities going forward,” he said.
Maman said this is a positive step, noting that the government, under the direction of the President of the Republic of Indonesia, has consistently sought ways to help ojol drivers progress further and not merely engage in ride-hailing activities, but also gain opportunities to open businesses in other sectors.
“Because in principle, ojol drivers have very flexible working hours. So I think that besides driving for ojol, they can also open up other business spaces and activities,” he said.
The Ministry of MSMEs has also spoken with app management companies and will prepare a number of programme instruments and policy measures to encourage growth and improve the welfare of ojol drivers across the country.
“One thing I want to emphasise is that within the online transport ecosystem, it is not only ojol drivers and app operators who are involved, but there are also MSME merchants who participate and who certainly need our attention as well,” Maman said.
Going forward, he continued, the Ministry of MSMEs will also view this ecosystem from the perspective of communities and MSME groups that also need attention.
Therefore, future policy measures to be issued by the Ministry of MSMEs will take into account the considerations of all stakeholders, groups, and communities involved.
For information, Minister of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises Maman Abdurrahman said the Presidential Regulation on the Digital Transport Ecosystem is targeted for completion within a week after the government finishes synchronising a number of articles.
Maman said only about two articles remain in the synchronisation and finalisation stage before the regulation is enacted. He noted that one of the points of consensus reached by the government in the regulation is the designation of online motorcycle taxi drivers as micro businesses.
Maman said this status was chosen after considering the aspirations of ojol communities and associations that have engaged in dialogue with the government. According to him, designation as a micro business allows ojol drivers to retain flexibility in running their business activities while also gaining access to various MSME policies and incentives.
Maman also stressed that micro business status does not automatically subject ojol drivers to income tax. He explained that MSME actors with annual turnover of up to Rp500 million are not subject to income tax under prevailing tax regulations. Meanwhile, the average turnover of ojol drivers is said to range from Rp10 million to Rp15 million.