Last Monday, about 2,000 taxi drivers came out to the National Monument to protest ride-hailing app services like Uber and GrabCar for what they felt were unfair, illegal practices. At first, the government seemed to likely to act in favor of the taxi companies, with the Department of Transportation requesting the IT Ministry to block the apps for infringing on the law. But in the end, the government took a surprisingly progressive stance by announcing that they would create new laws to legalize and regulate the services as long as they followed certain guidelines, including forming business cooperatives answerable to a regulatory body.
But that step seems to have done nothing to alleviate the concerns of public transport drivers, who are once again ready to take their protests against Uber and its other competitors to the court of public opinion.
The drivers, organized by the Association of Public Transport Drivers (PPAD), plan on holding an even bigger protest tomorrow, which they say could bring as many as 8,000 drivers out of their cars and onto the streets.
The rally is planned to take place on Jakarta’s main streets tomorrow during working hours (from 9am to 5:30pm), which the police are warning could cause major traffic interruptions.
“There is a possibility of delays in the flow of traffic on Jalan Gatot Subroto in front of the MPR/DPR building, as well as on Jalan Medan Merdeka Selatan, Medan Merdeka Barat, and Kebon Sirih,” said Jakarta Traffic Police Senior Commissioner Budiyanto to Kompas today.
Congestion is also predicted to occur along the protest route that will head through Senayan.
The public transport drivers who will be heading to the rallying point come from Terminal Kampung Melayu, Terminal Senen, Terminal Citraland Kalideres, Terminal Tanjung Priok and Terminal Block M.
Police are warning public transport users to be prepared to use alternative transport options and to head out early tomorrow.
Authorities say up to 5,000 security personnel will be on hand to secure the rally. The Transportation Ministry has urged the drivers not to protest tomorrow as the government was already working on a solution to create a fair market for ride-hailing apps to compete with other public transport options.
Interestingly, the Blue Bird Taxi Group is already petitioning the government to allow it to follow certain business practices used by Uber and other ride-hailing services in a bid to increase their efficiency and become more competitive. Good on them for looking ahead instead of trying to fight the future.
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