Trade Minister: Sellers and E-Commerce Platforms Must Be on Equal Footing

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Trade Minister Budi Santoso has emphasised that sellers and e-commerce platform providers must be on equal footing.

Budi stated that his ministry is currently revising Trade Ministerial Regulation (Permendag) No. 31 of 2023 on Trading Through Electronic Systems (PMSE).

The revisions include provisions to protect the rights of sellers and e-commerce platforms.

“So everything must be equal. Sellers and platforms must be equal. They each have their own rights and obligations. Consumers must also be protected,” Budi said at Pasar Palmerah in West Jakarta on Wednesday (13/5/2026).

When disputes arise between sellers and e-commerce platforms or consumers, they must be resolved transparently.

“So this is to protect consumers and also to protect sellers. Complaints can come from both sides,” Budi stressed.

Additionally, the revisions require e-commerce platforms to be transparent about administrative fees and other charges imposed on sellers.

E-commerce platforms must provide a draft agreement on the amount of administrative fees that sellers can download.

“So platforms must be transparent in imposing fees, administrative fees or any other fees,” Budi explained.

According to Budi, the revision of Permendag No. 31 of 2023 is in its final stages. The revision is expected to be completed and signed soon.

“Hopefully next week it will be ready,” he said.

For information, the protection of sellers’ rights has recently come under scrutiny after they complained about fee increases imposed by platform providers.

The government also recognises the need to strengthen regulations on digital transaction governance so that all parties are protected.