Indonesia is tightening control over the ride-hailing sector, combining direct state ownership with new regulations that cap platform commissions and boost driver earnings.
The government has acquired stakes in ride-hailing platforms through sovereign investment vehicle Danantara, a move officials said will support policy intervention in the sector.
Deputy House Speaker Sufmi Dasco Ahmad said the state has already entered app-based transport firms, although details of the investments remain undisclosed.
“The government, through Danantara, has entered the platforms and taken shareholdings,” he said at the House complex on Friday, as cited by local media.
The investment comes alongside a new regulation signed by President Prabowo Subianto on the protection of online transportation workers, which caps the commission charged by ride-hailing platforms at 8%, down from as high as 20%.
Rejecting a 10% cap proposed by driver groups, Prabowo said at a May Day rally in Jakarta: “I do not agree with 10%. It must be below 10%.”
Under the new framework, the revenue split has been revised significantly in favour of drivers. Previously set at around 80% for drivers and 20% for platforms, the new rule mandates a minimum 92% share for drivers. “The revenue share… now becomes at least 92% for drivers,” Prabowo said.
The regulation is part of a broader push to improve welfare in the gig economy, including provisions for social protection such as health insurance and workplace accident coverage.
Ahmad said the government’s role as a shareholder could help facilitate these changes, including the targeted reduction in commissions to 8%, although implementation will be gradual. “Because this involves systems… the policy will be adjusted gradually but surely,” he said.
Authorities are also reviewing the employment status of drivers, weighing whether they should be classified as formal workers or remain independent partners. “Discussions on whether they become employees or remain partners are still being simulated,” Ahmad added.
Platforms’ response
Ride-hailing operator Grab said it is open to working with the government but cautioned that policy changes need to be carefully assessed.
“We will continue to coordinate and engage in open dialogue,” Grab Indonesia CEO Neneng Goenadi said in a statement, adding that any regulatory shift could have broad implications for driver earnings, consumer pricing, and overall ecosystem sustainability.
The firm has previously highlighted that tariff and commission adjustments affect multiple variables, including demand sensitivity and partner income, underscoring the need for a balanced approach.
Meanwhile, GoTo, which operates Gojek, said it is reviewing the policy while stressing the need to maintain balance across the ecosystem. “We support efforts to improve driver welfare, but implementation needs to consider sustainability for all stakeholders,” GoTo president Hans Patuwo stated.
He added that the company will continue coordinating with the government as it assesses the impact of the new rules on drivers, consumers, and partners.
