A coalition of online motorcycle taxi (ojol) and online taxi drivers from across Indonesia is set to stage a large scale protest on Tuesday, 20 May 2025, with plans to disable ride hailing apps such as Gojek and Grab for an entire day.
The demonstration, dubbed Action 205, will centre on Jakarta but involve coordinated efforts in numerous major cities nationwide.
Raden Igun Wicaksono, Chairman of Garda Indonesia, confirmed that his organisation, along with various regional alliances, has finalised preparations for the nationwide strike and rally.
The action is a direct response to alleged violations of government regulations by online transportation applicators.
“Garda Indonesia, as an association of ojol drivers, apologises to the citizens of Jakarta and the Jabodetabek agglomeration because on Tuesday, 20 May 2025, the city of Jakarta will be invaded by online motorcycle taxi drivers with a combination of two-wheeled and four-wheeled in the context of a grand rally and reunion of the aspirations of the 205 grand action,” said Raden Igun, as quoted by Antara.
The protest is scheduled to take place from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., with participants expected to gather at key national sites including the Merdeka Palace, the Ministry of Transportation, and the Indonesian Parliament.
Organisers have warned of potential disruptions and heavy traffic congestion across Jakarta during the event.
“We ask road users around the locations of the 205 mass rallies to adjust their passing hours so as not to get stuck in traffic,” Igun added.
Nationwide Movement
The action is expected to involve around 500,000 online drivers, both two-wheeled and four-wheeled, either through physical demonstrations or by switching off their apps—a form of protest referred to as “offbid”.
Participating cities include Medan, Palembang, Jakarta, Bandung, Semarang, Surakarta, Surabaya, Balikpapan, Makassar, Manado, and Ambon. Igun stated that approximately 250,000 drivers are projected to take to the streets in Jakarta alone.
“We are targeting around 250,000 joint drivers to take to the streets and be centred in Jakarta. For Jakarta, there are several joint action locations such as the Ministry of Transportation, the Merdeka Palace, and the Indonesian Parliament,” he explained.
The movement is supported by various alliances, including APOB, GOGRABBER, TEKAB, SAKOI, and GEPPAK, along with the Kalimantan Native Putra Putri Movement organisation.
Protest Against Excessive Application Deductions
At the heart of the protest is dissatisfaction with what drivers allege to be excessive commission deductions by applicators, claimed to be as high as 50 percent, far above the maximum limit of 20 percent outlined in Ministerial Decree Kepmenhub KP Number 1001 of 2022.
“We hope the government can respond to the disappointment of two-wheeled and four-wheeled online drivers who feel neglected regarding alleged violations of regulations by a number of applicators,” Igun urged.
He noted that drivers have remained patient since 2022 but have yet to receive meaningful attention or resolution.
As a result, Garda and the broader driver community have decided to pursue firm action through both a mass rally and a coordinated offbid.
The organisers have appealed for public understanding, emphasising that this action is intended to push for improvements to Indonesia’s online transportation ecosystem and the enforcement of fair policies.
Cover: Source: JawaPos
