Ride-Hailing Drivers Concerned About 'Loopholes' in Additional Costs Regarding 8% App Cuts
Despite this, drivers also harbour concerns about the emergence of ‘loopholes’ in other costs deliberately increased by the platforms. Therefore, drivers are urging the government not to focus solely on the commission cut figure but also to monitor ancillary service fees that are often non-transparent.
Isa (49), a Grab driver, admits to having mixed feelings. On one hand, he is grateful that drivers’ aspirations have finally been heard. On the other, he is sceptical that platforms will simply relinquish profits so easily.
“To be honest, I both believe and don’t believe it. I believe it in the sense that I thank the government for responding after three years when we’ve wanted this 20 percent cut to be lowered,” he said when met in South Jakarta on Saturday (2/5/2026).
“But after the Presidential Regulation (Perpres), there have been many issues from observers and people who understand online transport communications—they’re starting to think, including us, that while this is being lowered, there’s another side that’s being raised,” Isa continued.
One loophole, according to him, is the platform service fee outside the platform cut. He mentioned that the service fee charged to consumers lacks clear indicators.
“So the customer still pays, say, Rp 28,000, they will still pay Rp 28,000. And we will still receive that amount because the fee they raise,” Isa explained.
Therefore, he is asking the government to also monitor the entire system from the platforms. The goal is to prevent loopholes that ultimately burden drivers again.
“Now this fee is the problem; sometimes we don’t know how they set it, it’s like they do whatever they want. Sometimes Rp 3,000, sometimes I once had a passenger up to Rp 10,000, sometimes Rp 5,000. We don’t understand the calculations,” Isa stated.
He also hopes that the issued Perpres is truly detailed and closes manipulation loopholes by platforms. Because drivers want prosperity, but platforms must also remain operational.
“But don’t let this Perpres pressure business owners either, which I’m also a bit worried about. There’s concern that business owners might get angry or something, leading them to flee abroad and so on; that also needs to be considered,” Isa added.
“So don’t just do whatever we want, no. We must consider them (platforms) too. They also have to use technology with GPS and all that costs money. There should be a win-win solution,” Isa hoped.
Similar concerns were voiced by Gojek driver Andrianto (33). He mentioned that in previous experiences, whenever there were regulatory changes or mass actions, platforms tended to roll out new programmes that ultimately cut drivers’ income indirectly.
“If the impact is good for drivers, that’s fine actually. But sometimes if it’s changed around like that, we’re afraid there might be new programmes again,” Andrianto said.
He gave the example of the current ‘langganan gacor’ programme, where drivers must pay a certain fee to be prioritised for orders.
“We’re cut Rp 20,000 a day. Imagine, a month Rp 600,000. That’s enough to pay rent or buy milk for the kids. The platform raises service fees to customers, prices go up, but we drivers still get the same amount,” he revealed.
Therefore, he hopes the government supervises so that this 8 percent cut is pure without additional burdensome fees that affect drivers as partners or consumers.
“If it’s implemented properly like that, 8 percent for the platform, 92 percent for drivers, no extras, that’s beneficial for drivers,” he added.
“What drivers fear is that customers might flee if the platforms mess around with it,” Andrianto concluded.