JAKARTA, Aug 29 (Reuters) - Over 1,000 motorcycle taxi

drivers staged a strike in several Indonesian cities on Thursday

to protest against low pay, and called on the government to

provide more protection against what they say are unfair

practices by ride-sharing companies.

Drivers wearing trademark green jackets gathered outside the

communications ministry and near the Jakarta offices of

Indonesia's largest technology company GoTo and

Southeast Asia's biggest ride-hailing and food delivery firm

Grab.

Motorcycle taxis are ubiquitous across Indonesia, including

in the capital Jakarta, known for some of the world's worst

traffic congestion, and the protests prompted some complaints on

social media of slow services.

A spokesperson for GoTo's ride-hailing unit Gojek said on

Thursday its operations were running as normal, and that it was

open to drivers' input.

Grab's tariffs were designed to ensure stable demand for its

services, while keeping in mind drivers' earnings, said Tirza

Munusamy, chief of public affairs for its Indonesian unit. The

Singapore-based company did not respond to a query about whether

the strike disrupted its operations.

Drivers want ride-hailing firms to raise the share they get

for every trip from 80% now and for the government to give

special status for their terms of employment so they have more

bargaining power over fees, said Andi Kristiyanto, a

representative of the National Online Taxi Coalition, which

arranged the protest.

Driver Wandi said he worked for 10 hours every day but made

less than 150,000 rupiah ($9.73) most days. This means his daily

income is below Jakarta's minimum wage of 5 million rupiah

($324.5).

"We want platforms to listen to us," said Wandi, who gave

only one name.

GoTo and Grab offer ride hailing, food delivery, and other

services in several Southeast Asian countries, and have a

combined market capitalisation of about $18 billion.

The companies recognise drivers as partners, so they do not

have the legal obligation to set minimum wages, pay social

security insurance or limit working hours, said Nabiyla Risfa

Izzati, a labour law lecturer at University of Gadjah Mada.

"It's right to push the government so that it is the one

that regulates the companies," she said, adding it needed to set

floor and ceiling fees across all industries for the drivers,

such as ride hailing and food delivery.

Indonesia's manpower ministry did not immediately respond to

a request for comment, while the transport ministry said it did

not regulate fees, urging platforms to listen to drivers.

($1 = 15,410.0000 rupiah)