8% Ojol Commission Rule Officially Takes Effect, But Drivers Feel They Are Not Benefiting: Why?

The policy limiting online motorcycle taxi (ojol) commission to 8 percent officially began on July 1, 2026, with the hope of increasing the income of driver partners. 

However, just one day after the rule took effect, complaints from ojol drivers emerged, stating that the change has not yet delivered any real impact on their earnings. 

According to the drivers, the main issue is not only the commission percentage deducted by the app, but also various other fees that continue to reduce their income with every completed trip.

Key Takeaways

• The ojol app operator commission has officially been reduced to 8 percent starting July 1, 2026.
• Drivers claim their income has not increased due to various other fee deductions outside the commission.
• Drivers are calling on the government to evaluate base trip fares, not just reduce commissions.

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What Does the 8% Ojol Commission Rule Contain?

Starting July 1, 2026, the government and app companies have implemented a new policy that caps the commission deduction at a maximum of 8 percent. This step was taken as part of efforts to improve the welfare of driver partners who have long complained about high deductions from every order.

In theory, the policy should result in drivers receiving a larger share of the income compared to before. With a smaller commission, net earnings should increase if trip fares and other components remain the same.

However, on-the-ground implementation shows a different situation. According to reports from Kompas, several drivers stated that the benefits of the rule have not been truly felt because various other fee components continue to be deducted from their income.

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Why Are Ojol Drivers Still Complaining?

The main complaint from drivers is no longer about the official commission rate, but the total deductions they experience after completing each trip.

A driver interviewed by Kompas revealed that although the app commission has been reduced to 8 percent, net income remains reduced due to other fees that are still charged. As a result, daily earnings have not seen a significant increase.

According to the drivers, these various deductions mean the official commission figure does not accurately reflect the actual amount they receive each day.

In addition, some drivers say they still have to bear various operational costs that continue to rise, from fuel, vehicle servicing, oil changes, tires, to vehicle installments. 

With the rising cost of living, the income difference from the commission reduction is considered insufficient to meaningfully improve welfare. 

Illustration: Image generated by AI

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Drivers Call for Normalization of Base Fares

In addition to highlighting fee deductions, drivers have raised another demand they consider more important: normalization of base trip fares.

According to them, the base fare is the main component that determines income size. If the initial fare is too low, reducing the commission will not bring meaningful change to net earnings.

Simply put, driver income is calculated from the trip fare after deducting various cost components. When the base fare is not adjusted, the amount received by drivers remains relatively small even if the commission percentage is lowered.

Therefore, some drivers are asking the government to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the online motorcycle taxi fare structure, not just focus on the app operator commission rate.

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What Fee Deductions Are Being Questioned?

In practice, drivers say there are still several cost components that reduce income besides the main commission.

Although each app has different policies, drivers feel that various additional fees, including app taxes, make the total deductions larger than the commission figure announced by the government.

On the other hand, some drivers also highlight various promotional programs that affect net income. They hope all deduction components can be explained more transparently so that driver partners understand the calculations applied to each trip.

Why Has the Base Fare Become the Focus?

The base fare has become a point of attention because it is the main source of driver income.

If trip fares remain low, commission reduction only provides limited additional income. Conversely, an increase in the base fare will directly raise the amount received by drivers, even if the commission percentage does not change.

Drivers also note that current economic conditions are different from several years ago. Fuel prices, vehicle spare parts, and maintenance costs have increased, so the base fare needs to be evaluated to better match actual operational costs.

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Conclusion

The implementation of the 8 percent ojol commission rule is an initial step toward improving the welfare of driver partners. 

However, based on the experience of several drivers in the field, the policy has not yet delivered a significant impact on income because various other fee deductions still need to be borne.

Drivers hope the next evaluation will not only address the app operator commission rate, but also include transparency of all deduction components and adjustments to base trip fares. 

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FAQ

What is the 8% ojol commission rule?

This rule caps the commission deduction by app companies at a maximum of 8 percent starting July 1, 2026, as an effort to increase driver partner income.

Why are ojol drivers still complaining after the new rule took effect?

Drivers say they are still subject to various other fee deductions, so net income has not increased significantly.

What are the main demands of ojol drivers?

In addition to requesting transparency on fee deductions, they also propose normalizing base trip fares so that income better matches operational costs.

Do all apps apply the same deduction system?

No. Each app company has different cost structures and operational policies, although they must still follow applicable regulations.

Why is the base fare considered more important than commission reduction?

The base fare determines the initial value of every trip. If the fare is too low, commission reduction only provides limited additional income.

Does the 8% commission rule automatically increase driver earnings?

Not necessarily. The amount of income received by drivers is also influenced by trip fares, operational costs, and other applicable deduction components.