Inclusive Policy Transformation for Sustainability: Improving the Quality of Life of Gig Economy Workers in Indonesia
Keywords:
Gig economy inclusive policies sustainability digital transformation workers' quality of lifeAbstract
The growth of the digital economy in Indonesia has driven the expansion of the gig economy, which significantly affects the quality of life of workers, especially the younger generation. Based on data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS, 2025), the proportion of informal workers reaches 59.40% or around 83.8 million people, including free workers based on digital platforms. The IDinsight study (2024) estimates that the number of workers who are active through digital platforms ranges from 430,000 to 2.3 million people, indicating an increasing dependence on the gig economy ecosystem. However, gig workers face serious challenges such as income uncertainty, lack of social protection, and limited access to health and employment insurance. This research aims to analyze the impact of the gig economy on the quality of life of workers in Indonesia and formulate an inclusive and sustainable public policy transformation. The research method used is a descriptive qualitative approach through a systematic literature review and data analysis is carried out using a thematic synthesis approach to identify four main dimensions: legal status ambiguity, social security gaps, algorithmic governance, and policy reform directions. The results show that gig workers face legal status uncertainty, lack of access to BPJS, and non-transparent algorithmic domination, which collectively reduce the welfare and bargaining power of digital workers. To address these challenges, this research proposes an integrative and inclusive policy model that includes: (1) ABC-based (Autonomy, Business, Customary) employment relationship presumption test, (2) implementation of a portable social benefits system, and (3) provision of fiscal incentives for platforms that support social protection and digital worker training. The novelty of this research lies in the inclusive policy transformation approach that not only evaluates existing regulations, but also offers collaborative and sustainable policy mechanisms to strengthen gig workers' welfare and support Indonesia's inclusive and equitable economic development agenda.
References
Agbodzakey, J. (2024). Introduction to Collaborative Governance (pp. 3–11). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-57373-6_1 Andri Herman Setiawan, Firman Nurdiyansyah Sunandar, Ahmad Juaeni, & Johannes Triestanto. (2025). Analysis of Digital Employment Contracts on Gig Economy Platforms: Between Flexibility and Exploitation. International Journal of Law, Crime and Justice, 2(3), 54–64. https://doi.org/10.62951/ijlcj.v2i3.723 Apriyanto, A. (2025). The Shadow Economy’s Role in Indonesia’s Digital Economic Structure. The Es Economics and Entrepreneurship, 4(01), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.58812/esee.v4i01.718 Ashima Trivedi, & Anupama Karwal. (2025). The Rise of the Gig Economy in Uttarakhand : Opportunities and Challenges. International Journal of Advanced Research in Science, Communication and Technology, 451–459. https://doi.org/10.48175/IJARSCT-28958 Bujold, A., Parent-Rocheleau, X., & Gaudet, M.-C. (2022). Opacity behind the wheel: The relationship between transparency of algorithmic management, justice perception, and intention to quit among truck drivers. Computers in Human Behavior Reports, 8, 100245. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chbr.2022.100245 Catleya Cheysa, C. (2024). Analisis Perlindungan Hukum Bagi Pengemudi Ojek Online Pasca Berlakunnya Undang-Undang Cipta Kerja. Proceedings Series on Social Sciences & Humanities, 17, 181–185. https://doi.org/10.30595/pssh.v17i.1120 Christiyono, T. C., Tohari, M., & Suryandari, W. D. (2024). Reorientation of regulation to accommodate the status of online driver workers. Indonesian Journal of Multidisciplinary Science, 4(2), 89–96. https://doi.org/10.55324/ijoms.v4i2.1030 Dadhania, J., & Parsana, P. (2025). United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 8 : Decent work and Economic Growth. International Journal on Science and Technology, 16(3). https://doi.org/10.71097/IJSAT.v16.i3.7875 De Stefano, V., & Taes, S. (2023). Algorithmic management and collective bargaining. Transfer: European Review of Labour and Research, 29(1), 21–36. https://doi.org/10.1177/10242589221141055 Firdausi, F. A., Putera, R. E., & Yoserizal, Y. (2023). Implementasi Program Jaminan Sosial Ketenagakerjaan bagi Tenaga Kerja Bukan Penerima Upah di BPJS Ketenagakerjaan Padang. Journal of Social and Policy Issues, 183–191. https://doi.org/10.58835/jspi.v3i4.212
Fransisco, F., Nugroho, A., & Natania, E. B. R. (2025). Non-Standard Employment Relationships in the Digital Era: A Normative Study on the Regulatory Void in Protecting Ride-Hailing Drivers. SIGn Jurnal Hukum, 7(1), 580–597. https://doi.org/10.37276/sjh.v7i1.503 Gai, M. F., Kope, M. H. K., Seto, C. M., & Dima, E. T. Y. (2025). Kontribusi Ekonomi Digital terhadap Pertumbuhan Ekonomi dan Penciptaan Lapangan Kerja di Indonesia. SCIENTIFIC JOURNAL OF REFLECTION : Economic, Accounting, Management and Business, 8(3), 981–987. https://doi.org/10.37481/sjr.v8i3.1180 Gaidampas, S. (2025). The GIG economy: an emerging paradigm in the labor market. Simpozion Ştiinţific Al Tinerilor Cercetători. Ediţia a 22-a. Culegere de Lucrări Ştiinţifice. Vol 2, 214–217. https://doi.org/10.53486/sstc2024.v2.50 Hadiati, D. (2024). Legal Protection for Online Transportation Service Drivers as Platform Workers in Indonesia. Peradaban Hukum Nusantara, 1(1), 36–59. https://doi.org/10.62193/245kqc30 Kim, T. H., & Kim, E. C. (2023). The Study of Criteria to Judge a Platform Worker as an Employee Focused on the Domestic and International Judicial Cases. LAW RESEARCH INSTITUTE CHUNGBUK NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, 14(2), 39–74. https://doi.org/10.34267/cbstl.2023.14.2.39 Kociaj, I., & Sema, E. (2025). Regulation of Platform Work in the EU: A Comparative Analysis of the Draft Directive of 2021 and the Directive (EU) 2024/2831. Balkans Journal of Emerging Trends in Social Sciences, 8(1), 49–57. https://doi.org/10.31410/Balkans.JETSS.2025.8.1.49-57 Lee, S. (2025). The Flexibility Myth: How Gig Work Undermines Security and Shifts Public Costs. International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology, 487–493. https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/25aug136 Oey, W. (2024). MISKLASIFIKASI HUBUNGAN KERJA PENGEMUDI OJEK ONLINE (PLATFORM WORKER) DI INDONESIA. Veritas et Justitia, 10(1), 153–178. https://doi.org/10.25123/vej.v10i1.7722 Pawłowska, Z. (2024). Zarządzanie algorytmiczne a autonomia w pracy platformowej. Occupational Safety – Science and Practice, 633(6), 14–16. https://doi.org/10.54215/BP.2024.6.13.Pawlowska Ponto, V. M. (2023). Peningkatan Produktivitas Dalam Rangka Mewujudkan Pekerjaan Layak dan Pertumbuhan Ekonomi (Tujuan ke-8 Sustainable Development Goals). Cendekia Niaga, 7(1), 85–96. https://doi.org/10.52391/jcn.v7i1.792 Rahma Fitri Amelia Hasibuan, Muhammad Abdillah, Nadilah Andini, Fitria Mukhtar Siregar, & Annisa Putri Andini Tanjung. (2025). Kontrak Kerja vs Kontrak Platform : Perbandingan Perlindungan Hukum bagi Pekerja di Era Ekonomi Digital. Konsensus : Jurnal Ilmu Pertahanan, Hukum Dan Ilmu Komunikasi, 2(3), 75–85. https://doi.org/10.62383/konsensus.v2i3.941 Rahmadani, G., Rokan, M. K., & Affan, I. (2025). Peran BPJS Kesehatan dalam Menanggapi Perubahan Struktur Pekerjaan di Era Globalisasi Ekonomi. Rechtsnormen Jurnal Komunikasi Dan Informasi Hukum, 3(2), 86–90. https://doi.org/10.56211/rechtsnormen.v3i2.808 Ramadhika Darmaputra, Ryan Hidayat, Jaja Nurjana, Wahidah R. Bulan, Yuliani Widianingsih, & Ronald Manolu. (2023). Dampak Profesi Ojek Online Bagi Perekonomian Driver Ojek Online. Jurnal Manajemen Riset Inovasi, 2(1), 139–150. https://doi.org/10.55606/mri.v2i1.2202
Royo, M. R.-P. (2019). La Directiva 2019/1152, relativa a unas condiciones laborales transparentes y previsibles en la Unión Europea. Derecho de Las Relaciones Laborales, 11, 1089–1108. Shepherd, N. J. (2025). Gig Economy Workers’ Rights: Legal Classification and Social Protection in Digital Labour Markets. International Journal of Law and Societal Studies, 2(1), 24–35. https://doi.org/10.61424/ijlss.v2i1.379 Sherawat, V. (2025). Gig Workers and Financial Security. In Unlocking the Gig Economy in India (pp. 108–124). MGM Publishing House. https://doi.org/10.62823/MGM/9789349468719/11 William Manga Mokofe. (2022). Achieving Decent Work For Digital Platform Workers In South Africa. Obiter, 43(2). https://doi.org/10.17159/obiter.v43i2.14278
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Indonesia Forum on Labour and Productivity
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.