Online Taxi Driver Association Urges Strengthening of Partnerships with App-Based Companies

The National Online Taxi Driver Coalition (KON) has chosen to maintain the status of online taxi (ojol) drivers as partners of app-based companies, despite calls to reclassify drivers as formal employees. However, KON is requesting that governance and partnership agreements be strengthened to improve driver protection and welfare.

KON General Chairman Andi Kristianto stated that the partnership model must continue to consider the interests of drivers, app companies, and consumers. This stance was conveyed by KON during an audience with the Ministry of MSMEs.

“KON continues to fight for online taxi drivers to remain as partners, with the caveat that it must be a fair partnership—fair for drivers, fair for app companies, and fair for consumers. We must maintain this ecosystem well,” Andi said in a written statement in Jakarta on Thursday (1/10/2026).

KON Advocacy Coordinator Rachman noted that the relationship between online taxi drivers and app companies has been based on partnership from the beginning. According to him, increasing driver protection and welfare can be achieved without changing their status to a formal employment relationship. “Our principle is clear: online taxi drivers are partners,” said Rachman.

One of the steps promoted by KON is the strengthening of agreements between drivers and app companies. During the audience with the Ministry of MSMEs, KON presented eight proposed points for the revision of partnership agreements.

Rachman believes these revisions could serve as an instrument to enhance driver protection without altering their relationship status with the app companies. According to him, the Ministry of MSMEs will review these proposals for the drafting of new partnership agreements.

“The Ministry of MSMEs has welcomed this and will study and refine these points into a draft that can be implemented in the latest partnership agreements, to ensure drivers do not suffer losses again,” said Rachman.

Ministry of MSMEs Spokesperson Faisal Anwar confirmed that maintaining partnership status is one of KON’s primary aspirations. This aspiration comes amidst the ongoing debate regarding the status of digital platform drivers within the discussions of the Labour Protection Bill (RUU PK).

“They stated their support for online taxi drivers to be MSME partners, rather than employees. Therefore, they declared their support for online taxi drivers as MSME partners,” said Faisal.