Indonesia Seizes Control of Ride-Hailing: Danantara Buys Into Gojek, Targets Grab as Commissions Slashed to 8%

In what may be the most aggressive state intervention in a gig economy anywhere in the world, Indonesia’s government has simultaneously acquired equity in the country’s dominant ride-hailing platforms and imposed sweeping new regulations that slash platform commissions from around 20% to just 8%.

The dual move — unveiled on International Workers’ Day, May 1, 2026 — signals a dramatic shift in how the Prabowo administration intends to govern the digital economy: not just through regulation, but through direct ownership.

Danantara Steps In

Deputy House Speaker Sufmi Dasco Ahmad confirmed that Daya Anagata Nusantara (Danantara), Indonesia’s sovereign investment agency, has already acquired stakes in ride-hailing platforms. According to Indonesian media reports, Gojek — operated by PT GoTo Gojek Tokopedia — is confirmed, while Danantara is currently in negotiations with Grab, the Singapore-based rival.

Details of the investments, including stake sizes and valuations, remain undisclosed.

“The government, through Danantara, has entered the platforms and taken shareholdings,” Dasco told reporters at the House of Representatives complex in Jakarta on Friday.

The state’s entry into platform ownership is intended to give the government leverage to reshape policies in the sector — particularly around the commission structure that drivers have long protested.

Presidential Regulation No. 27/2026

President Prabowo Subianto signed Presidential Regulation No. 27 of 2026 on the Protection of Online Transportation Workers, announced during a May Day speech at the National Monument (Monas) in Jakarta before thousands of workers.

The headline figure: platform commissions are capped at a maximum of 8%, meaning drivers will receive at least 92% of trip earnings — a significant jump from the previous 80/20 split.

Rejecting a 10% cap that driver groups had originally demanded, Prabowo was blunt: “I do not agree with 10%. It must be below 10%.”

The regulation also includes provisions for health insurance (BPJS Health) coverage and occupational accident protection for ride-hailing drivers.

Drivers Celebrate, Platforms Cautious

The Garda Indonesia Online Motorcycle Taxi Drivers Association, one of the country’s largest driver groups, described the policy as a “major milestone” — noting that the 8% cap actually exceeded their initial demand of 10%.

“This decision reflects the government’s response to drivers’ aspirations on the ground,” said chairperson Raden Igun Wicaksono in a written statement.

But the platforms struck a more cautious tone.

Grab Indonesia CEO Neneng Goenadi said the company is “open to working with the government” but warned that “any regulatory shift could have broad implications for driver earnings, consumer pricing, and overall ecosystem sustainability.”

GoTo president Hans Patuwo echoed similar concerns: “We support efforts to improve driver welfare, but implementation needs to consider sustainability for all stakeholders.”

Both companies have previously argued that tariff and commission changes affect demand sensitivity, partner income, and the overall viability of the business — an industry that has spent years chasing profitability in a market known for razor-thin margins.

The Bigger Picture: Merger Whispers and Employment Status

Danantara’s equity moves have reignited longstanding speculation about a potential Gojek-Grab merger in Indonesia. The sovereign fund’s dual engagement with both companies has fueled talk of consolidation under state oversight — a scenario that would fundamentally reshape the competitive landscape.

Meanwhile, the government is also reviewing the employment status of ride-hailing drivers, weighing whether they should be reclassified as formal employees rather than independent “partners.” Dasco confirmed that “discussions on whether they become employees or remain partners are still being simulated.”

Such a reclassification would have enormous implications — potentially entitling hundreds of thousands of drivers to minimum wage guarantees, severance pay, and other labor protections that platforms have avoided by classifying them as contractors.

Gradual Implementation

Dasco acknowledged that the changes won’t happen overnight: “Because this involves systems… the policy will be adjusted gradually but surely.”

For an industry where both Gojek and Grab have invested billions to build market share — and where neither has consistently turned a profit in Indonesia — the math just got significantly harder. Fewer commission dollars per ride means either higher prices for consumers, lower spending on technology, or deeper losses.

What This Means

Indonesia’s ride-hailing market is one of the largest in Southeast Asia, with millions of drivers and tens of millions of daily rides. The government’s decision to combine regulatory power with equity ownership is unprecedented in the global gig economy. It’s a model that, if successful, could inspire similar interventions in other markets where platform-worker tensions run high.

But the risks are real. Overregulation could drive platforms to reduce services, raise consumer prices, or pull back from less profitable areas. The gradual implementation timeline suggests the government is aware of these risks — but whether 8% leaves enough room for sustainable platform operations remains an open question.

One thing is certain: the era of light-touch regulation for Indonesia’s ride-hailing industry is over. The state is no longer just a referee — it’s now a player at the table.

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