Hundreds of tourist drivers – members of the Front of Bali Tourism Drivers (Forum Perjuangan Driver Pariwisata Bali) are displeased with competition from Bali’s online taxi operation and are demanding firm action from local lawmakers.
In response to these complaints, the Bali House of Representatives (DPRD) promises to enforce clear legal protections governing online taxi operations. In the short term, a call center is being established where the public and drivers can register their complaints and concerns,
The forum’s members organized a long march protest from the Parkir Timor at Lapangan Renon to the DPRD Building to meet with the chairman of the DPRD, Dewa Made Mahayadnya (Dewa Jack), and the chairman of DPRD Commission III I Nyoman Suyasa.
Provincial officials, Manpower officers, and a representative from the provincial tax office also attended the protest meeting at the DPRD.
The main demands of the disgruntled drivers made to Bali legislators:
- To create a limiting quota of online drivers allowed to operate in Bali.
- To review and reorganize vendors offering rental transport for both four-wheeled vehicles and motorcycles.
- Create a set tariff for rental transportation.
- Regulate transport drivers by allowing only individuals with Bali ID Cards (KTP-Bali) to work as transport drivers.
- All Bali transport must display a Bali license plate (DK) and a clear identity on each vehicle.
- Impose strict standards that must be followed by drivers originating from areas outside Bali.
- Nyoman Suyasa told the press that data collected by the Bali Provincial Transportation Agency records 10,854 transport vehicles operating on the Island against a projection made in 2020 that stipulated a need for a further 45.7% in total cars. Suyasa suggests a new comprehensive review to determine the need for rented transport.
The demand that only drivers holding Bali-based KTP be allowed to drive rented transport in Bali was rejected by legislators who explained that the KTP identity card held by all Indonesian citizens guarantees equal opportunities and rights under the law.
Bali Taxis: Free Market versus Oligarchical Control
Separately, Indonesian consumer laws forbid the operation of oligarchies and monopolies to safeguard free trade and open markets to protect the rights of both business operators and consumers. Meanwhile, many local driver associations protest the enhanced level of service and lower prices provided by online operators, often claiming they enjoy an exclusive right to provide ala kadar/perfunctory transport services in specific areas, even when this approach results in much higher prices and less convenience for the public.
Illegal Guide Services
In a separate but related development, many local drivers are alleging that foreigners are working illegally as drivers cum guides by greeting foreign passengers and providing transport services between the airport and local accommodation providers in Bali. Immigration officials have responded to these complaints and, as a result, recently apprehended an Indian national at the airport, suspecting the man was working illegally as a tour guide.
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