Ahead of the holidays, President Prabowo Subianto urged app-based transportation companies on Monday (Mar. 10) to provide religious holiday bonuses or holiday allowances (THR) to online drivers and couriers.
Although the drivers and couriers do not have a formal employment relationship with the app companies, the call to give them bonuses is commendable, considering that the welfare of online motorcycle/car taxi partners has been insufficient.
Dr. Hempri Suyatna, a lecturer in the Department of Social Development and Welfare at the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences of UGM (Fisipol UGM), stated that the government’s attention to encouraging app companies to provide THR in the form of cash bonuses to online drivers and couriers deserves appreciation.
So far, reality has shown that, given their status as partners, the welfare of online motorcycle/car taxi drivers has been lacking.
“These are workers who don’t have a stable monthly income, and even their social security is insufficient,” he said at the UGM campus on Thursday (Mar. 13).
According to Dr. Suyatna, the online taxi and courier sectors have contributed to the economy and the wider society. Therefore, he believes it is fitting for workers in this sector to receive some form of bonus before the Eid holiday.
Dr. Suyatna noted that the mechanism for providing THR should be carefully monitored, especially regarding the indicators used to determine the amount.
Minister of Manpower Yassierli has stated that the cash bonus will be 20 percent of the average monthly net income over the past 12 months.
Regarding providing THR to drivers and couriers from app companies, Dr. Suyatna suggested that regulatory changes are needed to define who is eligible to receive THR.
Referring to Circular Letter (SE) of the Minister of Manpower of the Republic of Indonesia No. M/2/HK.04/III/2024, online motorcycle/car taxi drivers and package couriers are categorized as workers with specific time work agreements (PKWT).
“This could serve as a legal basis for the provision of THR. He added that oversight of the government’s plan is needed now to ensure that the THR is truly given to online taxi and delivery drivers,” he added.
On the other hand, gig workers are still considered platform partners and lack a solid regulatory framework that can serve as a legal umbrella for employment guarantees.
“There’s a concern that the same will happen with the THR, where platform owners may only provide minimal bonuses instead of the intended THR,” he said.
Author: Agung Nugroho
Post-editor: Afifudin Baliya
Photograph: Shutterstock