Bogi Dewanto has been working as a taxi driver for 20 years. Before the pandemic, his job provided him with comfortable wages and a flexible working arrangement. He is considered a "partner," not an employee, of the taxi company. Bogi earns on a profit- sharing basis, and gets an additional bonus if he reaches a certain target income.
“I have been working as a taxi driver for 20 years now. Getting passengers used to be very easy before. People used to stop for taxis on the road and I even had a passenger showing up from behind a garbage bin. He was waiting for me behind the garbage bin with his child to shade from the sun. I didn’t realise he was waiting for me there when I passed by him the first time, so he waited there for me. Nowadays, it’s almost impossible to get a passenger like that. They would have been snatched by another taxi or gotten one online if I missed them.
“I have been working as a taxi driver for 20 years now. Getting passengers used to be very easy before. People used to stop for taxis on the road and I even had a passenger showing up from behind a garbage bin. He was waiting for me behind the garbage bin with his child to shade from the sun. I didn’t realise he was waiting for me there when I passed by him the first time, so he waited there for me. Nowadays, it’s almost impossible to get a passenger like that. They would have been snatched by another taxi or gotten one online if I missed them.
“I don’t think we need to integrate with online platforms to compete. If we (conventional taxis) can lower the price to match those online ones, I think the customers will definitely choose us. Online platforms are a win-win solution for all except for the drivers. It’s hard for the drivers since our share from the low price is further decreased by the platform’s fee.
“I don’t think we need to integrate with online platforms to bring home around 300,000 rupiah per day and can earn a net income of around 7 to 8 million rupiah per month, almost twice the minimum wage in Jakarta. That’s why I often told my customers who are office workers to not look down on taxi drivers.
“When the government imposed the large-scale restrictions on mobiity in Indonesia, it was very hard to get customers. On some days, I could only bring home 5,000 rupiah after a full day of work. My late wife eventually asked me to take some time off instead of risking myself roaming around in the streets without getting any customers. We lived off our savings for around three months until the movement restriction was eased.
“I received some support during the pandemic, which really helped us to stay afloat. From the government, I received both cash incentives and food supplies. Many people also held fundraising activities to help taxi drivers like me. There were food supplies handed out every Friday near a TV station building sponsored by celebrities. I also once received a 5 kg sack of rice from a customer riding my taxi.
“Since the movement restriction has been relaxed, Jakarta’s traffic is almost back to normal. I am starting to get more customers and can earn almost as much as I used to earn before the pandemic. Hopefully, the government won’t have to impose mobility restrictions again in the future so that the economy can grow again and we can live comfortably again.”
Interviewed by Pricilia Putri Nirmala Sari. The conversation has been translated, condensed, and edited for clarity. The views and opinions expressed in the text belong solely to the interviewee and do not reflect the official policy or position of ASEAN.
