Application Fees Cut to 8 Percent and Drivers Pocket 92 Percent: The New Strategy of the 2026 Ojol Presidential Regulation to Protect the Digital Transportation Ecosystem

The government officially issued Presidential Regulation (Perpres) Number 27 of 2026 concerning the Protection of the Digital Platform-Based Transportation Ecosystem on October 8, 2026. This regulation aims to provide legal certainty for drivers, application companies, and service users. Its scope covers passenger transportation as well as goods and food delivery, including the regulation of partnership relations between drivers and application companies. For digital platform-based passenger transportation services, the application service fee is capped at a maximum of 8%. Additionally, the Perpres regulates the rights and obligations of the parties, fee structures, incentive mechanisms, social protection, access to transaction data, the use of algorithm-based automated systems, and complaint mechanisms. Application companies are required to provide an easily accessible complaint center and respond to complaints no later than seven days after receipt. Application companies and drivers must also adjust partnership agreements, fee and income information systems, transaction receipts, and the recording of each type of service within six months after the provisions take effect.

To ensure these provisions are implemented in a coordinated manner, the government is preparing derivative regulations involving three ministries with distinct divisions of authority. The Ministry of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs/UMKM) acts as the leading sector and handles partnership aspects, the Ministry of Transportation regulates passenger transport and its tariffs, while the Ministry of Communication and Digital (Komdigi) manages goods and food delivery services. Inter-ministerial coordination is planned to be conducted through a communication forum or a joint task force. The House of Representatives (DPR) will also oversee the harmonization of derivative regulations to ensure the policy considers the aspirations of actors in the online transportation ecosystem. Meanwhile, the platform fee cap of a maximum of 8% has reportedly been in effect since July 1, 2026, through Ministry of Transportation provisions, and is now reinforced in the Perpres. Implementing regulations from the relevant ministries are targeted for completion no later than December 31, 2026.

The expansion of regulatory coverage to include goods and food delivery services is a crucial aspect that requires careful attention during implementation. Although both passenger transport and goods/food delivery utilize digital platforms, their technical regulations cannot be immediately deemed identical. Passenger transport tariff provisions will serve as one of the references in drafting delivery service rules, while price formation and cost transparency for goods and food delivery still require further regulation by the relevant ministries. Thus, clarity in derivative regulations is necessary so that platform fee caps, tariff formation mechanisms, and the division of responsibilities for each party can be applied according to the unique characteristics of the service. This is also essential to avoid ambiguity in applying the provisions across various types of platform-based services.

Regarding driver income, one highlighted point is the revenue-sharing scheme, where the driver's portion is at least 92% of the trip fare before operational costs, with the application company's commission capped at 8%. This scheme is compared to the previous pattern, which reportedly allocated about 80% to the driver and 20% to the application company. This figure needs to be understood within the context of passenger transport regulations and should not be immediately generalized as a uniform scheme for all digital platform services. Besides the income aspect, the Perpres also covers social protection in the form of work accident insurance, death benefits, and access to BPJS Health in accordance with statutory provisions. Meanwhile, the Holiday Bonus (BHR) for online drivers and couriers is a separate policy previously addressed through the Circular of the Minister of Manpower Number M/4/HK.04.00/III/2026 dated March 2, 2026. This policy encourages application companies to provide BHR to drivers and couriers registered in the preceding 12 months, amounting to at least 25% of their average net income over the 12 months, to be paid no later than seven days before the holiday.

The implementation of this Perpres brings implications for drivers, application companies, consumers, and businesses utilizing digital delivery services. For drivers, clarity regarding platform fees, partnership agreements, income transparency, and social protection can help clarify their rights and obligations within the partnership. For application companies, this regulation demands adjustments to agreements, administrative systems, transaction recording, the delivery of fee and income information, as well as complaint mechanisms. Meanwhile, consumers and business actors have a vested interest in tariff transparency and service certainty. However, the tangible impact of this policy will depend on the clarity of technical rules, the alignment of inter-ministerial implementation, and the compliance of all parties with the applicable provisions.

The issuance of Presidential Regulation Number 27 of 2026 marks a definitive step toward clarifying the governance of platform-based digital transportation, from partnership relations to driver protection. To achieve these objectives, the government must ensure that derivative regulations are completed on target, with clear divisions of authority and mutually aligned provisions. Application companies must prepare to adjust partnership agreements and operational systems, while drivers need to understand their rights and obligations under the new rules. With clear implementing regulations and consistent enforcement, this policy is expected to strengthen driver protection while supporting the long-term sustainability of the digital transportation ecosystem.