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Go-Jek drivers lay low after threats, assaults
Motorcycle taxi drivers (ojek) employed by mobile application company Go-Jek have been forced to stay undercover to avoid threats and assaults from traditional ojek drivers
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otorcycle taxi drivers (ojek) employed by mobile application company Go-Jek have been forced to stay undercover to avoid threats and assaults from traditional ojek drivers.
Hasanah, 28, a Go-Jek driver, said that sometimes she avoided wearing her company jacket while on duty for safety reasons.
"I heard about assaults on Go-Jek drivers. Yesterday I heard a driver was beaten up in Epicentrum, South Jakarta. And there had been other attacks too, recently one at University of Indonesia," she told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday.
She said that the information she gathered suggested that a Go-Jek driver in Epicentrum was beaten and his motorcycle was damaged due to a clash with local ojek drivers.
Go-Jek is a smartphone application through which users can order an ojek to transport them places or to ask the driver to deliver goods with lower tariffs than the traditional ojek.
Go-Jek operations have reportedly caused unease among the regular ojek drivers since then.
"I have not been attacked, but I have been told to go away by other ojek drivers," Hasanah said.
The same information also reached another driver, Andhika, 28, who has been working for Go-Jek for two months.
He said that the drivers shared information on a WhatsApp group about attacks on Go-Jek drivers, including the incident in University of Indonesia, which he claimed took place three to four weeks ago.
"So I try to pick up customers at a safe distance from other ojek drivers," he said.
He said that he insisted on working with Go-Jek as he obtained better earnings since working for the company. He said he earned at least Rp 250,000 (US$18.81) a day compared to his unstable earnings before.
He said that the other ojek drivers disliked the decreasing orders from customers since the popularity of the app took off, yet they refused to join.
"They think the customers' payment is lower with Go-Jek, and there is also a payment cut from the company. They don't want that," he said.
The application determines a fixed price for the trip based on each kilometer traveled, which sometimes is lower than regular ojek drivers' cost, with prices determined by negotiating with the customer.
The company previously stated that it did not support the violence and that it did not aim to compete against regular ojek drivers.
The company also said that its drivers have been equipped with medical and accident insurance.
Andhika said the company had also given the drivers a hotline to call to anticipate the attack.
"Now I just pray that nothing will happen to me," he said.
Agus, another Go-Jek driver, also confirmed the attacks, but stated that the company should take more stern actions toward Go-Jek attackers.
Go-Jek officials have not issued any statement yet to confirm the matter.
The Jakarta Police spokesperson Sr. Comr. Muhammad Iqbal, meanwhile, said that the police had not received any report on the incident until now. (fsu/ika)(+++)
