Tens of thousands of online motorcycle taxi (ojek online or ojol) drivers rallied in front of the Presidential Palace in Central Jakarta on Monday, July 21, 2025, demanding the government reduce commission fees charged by app-based ride-hailing companies and enact stronger regulations to protect drivers' rights.

The protest, dubbed “Aksi 217,” is organized by the Association of Two-Wheel Action (Gabungan Aksi Roda Dua, or Garda Indonesia), with Chairman Raden Igun Wicaksono estimating that over 50,000 drivers in participation.

"All driver groups are uniting for this demonstration. It's not just online drivers, but all allied groups surrounding the Presidential Palace today," Igun said, while addingthat participants were advised to turn off their apps and suspend operations (offbid) as part of the mass action.

The protesters called for:

1. The government to issue a specific law or presidential decree regulating online transportation.
2. The Ministry of Transportation to lower the maximum commission fee from 20 percent to 10 percent for passenger services.
3. The Ministry of Communications and Digital Application to regulate delivery fees for food and goods.
4. A comprehensive audit of major ride-hailing platforms such as Gojek, Grab, Maxim, and inDrive.
5. The abolition of various cost-cutting and bonus programs like "hemat," "promo," "member," "aceng," "slot," and "double order" that drivers argue reduce their earnings.

Protests also took place near the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources on Jalan Medan Merdeka Selatan.

Igun warned that unless their demands are met, the protest movement will continue nationwide through the end of the year.

“As long as the Transportation Minister and President Prabowo Subianto do not respond, Aksi 217 will not be our last. From August to December 2025, we will stage rolling mass demonstrations across Indonesia with allied driver groups,” he said.

Contrasting demands

A previous protest on July 17, 2025 saw a different stance. Drivers from a group called the Quick Reaction Unit (Unit Reaksi Cepat, or URC Bergerak) rejected the proposal to reduce the 20 percent commission to 10 percent.

Field coordinator Achsanul Solihin argued that the current 20 percent commission supports promotional campaigns that generate more orders for drivers.

“Drivers want a lower cut, but they don’t realize that the 20 percent has a positive domino effect. It drives more customer orders through promotions,” Achsanul said during a rally near Jakarta’s Horse Statue (Patung Kuda) area.

URC Bergerak expressed concern over potential politicization of the protests and warned that not all groups claiming to represent drivers have the drivers' best interests at heart.

Under Transportation Ministry Regulation KP 667/2022, app providers can take a commission of up to 15 percent for passenger services, with an additional 5 percent allowed for driver support programs such as insurance, health and training facilities, fuel vouchers, and operational assistance.

Some drivers, however, are demanding transparency on how this additional 5 percent is used.

URC Bergerak also opposed any change in driver status from "partners" to formal employees, fearing it would limit their flexibility and reduce opportunities. “If we’re considered employees, companies might limit recruitment and enforce strict requirements,” one driver said.

Both sides agreed on one point, the need for a legal umbrella, such as a Presidential Regulation in Lieu of Law (Perppu), to ensure consistent and clear policies governing the sector.

As protests continue, the government faces growing pressure to navigate competing demands from different factions of the country's sprawling ride-hailing workforce.