Maxim’s responsibilities toward food and bike delivery drivers under Law No. 6 Of 2023 (A study in Banda Aceh)

The rapid growth of platform-based digital business models has raised complex legal questions regarding the employment status of workers operating through these platforms. This study examines the legal accountability of Maxim, a digital transportation and food delivery company, toward its food and bike delivery drivers in Banda Aceh under Law No. 6 of 2023 on Job Creation. Using a normative-empirical juridical approach combined with in-depth interviews with five active Maxim drivers selected through purposive sampling, this study analyzes elements of the employment relationship, algorithmic subordination mechanisms, and labor protection obligations. Findings indicate that the relationship between Maxim and its drivers exhibits characteristics that substantially resemble an employment relationship, as confirmed by Maxim’s official Work Rules document containing 24 unilaterally imposed clauses. Algorithmically, drivers are controlled through order distribution, rating systems, a prohibition on rejecting automatic orders, and unilateral account suspension. Regarding protection, findings reveal significant gaps: no BPJS Ketenagakerjaan coverage funded by Maxim, inconsistent accident compensation with no standardized mechanism, and most drivers not receiving the Tunjangan Hari Raya (Holiday Allowance). This study concludes that formal regulatory recognition of platform workers as a distinct legal category is urgently needed to address these protection gaps.