Jakarta. Jakarta Police are offering a Rp500,000 ($30) bonus to ride-hailing motorcycle drivers who provide verified reports of street crimes in the capital, aiming to strengthen community participation in public safety.

The initiative was announced on Friday by the Jakarta Metro Policy Deputy Chief Dekananto Eko Purwono. Drivers who submit recordings of criminal activity they encounter while on the streets will be eligible for the cash reward.

“This is an encouragement from the regional police chief because our ride-hailing friends are on the road almost 24 hours a day. If they witness or find incidents of crime and send that information, they will receive a bonus,” Dekananto said. “Even without the bonus, I believe drivers will continue to share information because maintaining security is our shared responsibility.”

Jakarta Police Chief Asep Edi Suheri said the payment is intended purely as motivation and warned drivers not to misuse the incentive.

The program arrives amid a rapidly growing ride-hailing workforce. Maxim Indonesia, a private operator, estimates that more than 7 million people rely on the industry for daily income, a figure that includes couriers and online taxi drivers. The Social Security Agency for Employment (BPJS Ketenagakerjaan) estimates closer to 2 million drivers, though only 250,000 are currently insured.

A Rp 500,000 bonus is significant for ride-hailing drivers. A 2023 survey by the Institute for Demographic and Poverty Studies (IDEAS) found drivers’ average daily income dropped from Rp304,688 ($19) pre-pandemic to around Rp175,000 ($11) in 2022–2023, often requiring 11-hour workdays to complete 10 rides covering 42 kilometers on average. The Transport Ministry’s 2022 research showed that 50.1 percent of drivers earned just Rp50,000–100,000 ($3–6) per day, nearly equal to their operating costs, reported by 44.1 percent of drivers.

“This program empowers drivers to contribute to public safety while acknowledging the challenges they face daily on the streets,” Dekananto added.

The bonus scheme takes effect immediately, offering Jakarta’s ride-hailing drivers a chance to earn extra income while acting as informal community watch members.