Minister of Cooperatives and SMEs Maman Abdurrahman announced that his ministry has finalized a crucial regulation aimed at protecting and enhancing the competitiveness of the digital economic ecosystem. “It is currently awaiting enactment at the Ministry of State Secretariat,” he stated at the Parliamentary Complex in Senayan on Monday, May 18, 2026.
The Golkar party politician further elaborated that this new Ministerial Regulation on the Protection and Enhancement of Competitiveness is set to govern various provisions between e-commerce platforms (marketplaces) and their sellers.
Maman highlighted the government’s intention to standardize the terminology for e-commerce platform fees into three clear categories: registration fees, service fees, and promotional fees. He pointed out that currently, each marketplace employs a different nomenclature for platform costs. This varied terminology, he explained, often creates the impression of numerous different fees, when in reality, it is merely a matter of differing labels for similar components.
A significant provision in the regulation mandates platforms to provide a substantial 50 percent discount on service fees for micro and small-scale businesses. Maman emphasized, “Micro and small enterprises are fundamentally different from medium and large enterprises. They cannot be left to engage in a ‘free fight’ against their larger counterparts.” He added that during discussions with various marketplace platforms regarding this ministerial regulation, the majority expressed their readiness to comply with this policy.
Maman clarified that the decision to offer discounts on service fees stems from their nature as fixed, predetermined costs. This differs significantly from promotional fees, for instance, which are only incurred by businesses that actively opt into specific marketing programs.
However, to qualify for this crucial service fee discount, micro and small business actors must be registered within the SAPA UMKM system. This specialized system has been developed to effectively map and provide comprehensive services to MSME players across Indonesia, ensuring targeted support.
Once the regulation comes into effect, Maman stated that e-commerce platforms will be required to establish one-year long-term contracts concerning any potential increases in platform tariffs. “They cannot arbitrarily raise prices at will,” he asserted, ensuring greater predictability and stability for sellers.
Furthermore, should platforms intend to modify their tariffs, Maman explained that they would be obligated to provide a minimum of three months’ prior notification. This crucial lead time is designed to allow MSME actors sufficient opportunity to prepare and adjust to any changes, mitigating sudden impacts.
The government will grant e-commerce platforms a six-month grace period for adjustment once the regulation officially takes effect. “We have engaged in extensive dialogue with the marketplaces, and through our long discussions, our understanding is that they do not object to these policies,” Maman confirmed, indicating a collaborative approach to implementation.
Maman also warned that platforms failing to comply with these new regulations would face phased sanctions, underscoring the government’s commitment to enforcement.
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Summary
The Indonesian Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs has finalized a new regulation to standardize e-commerce platform fees, categorizing them into registration, service, and promotional costs. A key component of this policy is a mandatory 50 percent discount on service fees for micro and small enterprises registered in the SAPA UMKM system. This initiative aims to protect smaller businesses from unfair market competition and ensure greater financial predictability.
Under the new rules, e-commerce platforms must implement one-year, long-term contracts and provide a three-month notice period before any tariff adjustments. Platforms will be granted a six-month grace period to comply with these requirements, with phased sanctions in place for those that fail to follow the regulations. Most marketplace operators have expressed readiness to align with these government-mandated standards.