Taxi drivers’ anti-Uber protest causes traffic chaos in Indonesian capital
Drivers say competition from ride-hailing apps, which don’t face the same costs and rules as regular taxis, has severely reduced their income
Thousands of taxi drivers caused traffic chaos in the Indonesian capital on Tuesday in a rowdy protest against competition from ride-hailing apps such as Uber and Grab.
TV footage showed long lines of taxis blocking a central expressway, men setting tires alight and jumping on vehicles that refused to join in the protest. Drivers were seen surrounding one taxi, forcing its terrified female passenger out on to the road with her luggage.
It is the second major protest by taxi drivers in Jakarta this month. They say competition from ride-hailing apps, which don’t face the same costs and rules as regular taxis, has severely reduced their income. Many of the drivers come to Jakarta from other parts of Indonesia and support their families as taxi drivers.
We almost cry every day because it’s difficult to get passengers
Driver Jeffrey Sumampouw said his earnings have slumped more than 60 per cent since Uber and other apps starting getting popular in Jakarta about a year ago.
“The government must defend us from illegal drivers who have stolen our income,” he said. “We almost cry every day because it’s difficult to get passengers.”