Indonesia weighs its first law made for gig workers

Indonesia is considering its first law written specifically for gig workers, the roughly 2.3 million people who drive, deliver, and run errands through apps like Gojek and Grab. Writing for Indonesia at Melbourne, Petra Mahy explains that a 105-article draft law is on parliament's priority list for 2026, after years of driver protests.

The draft tries to walk a fine line. It would keep gig workers as "mitra," or partners, rather than full employees, which suits the app companies. But it would also give them real protections for the first time: access to social security, pay slips, the right to work for more than one app, fee-free tips, rules against harassment, and protection from being punished for organising. It even proposes a special court and council just for gig-worker disputes.

Not everything is settled. The author warns that the plan for solving disputes is underdeveloped, copied awkwardly from Malaysia's system. Still, for millions who have worked for years with almost no legal safety net, even a partial law would be a big change. The push grew out of large driver protests, including anger after a driver died during a demonstration in 2025.

Why it matters

If you drive or deliver for an app, this law could finally give you basic protections like social security and a fair way to settle disputes, without making you a full employee. How it is written decides whether those protections are real or just words. Watch whether the law passes in 2026, and whether gig workers get a genuine voice in it.