BANDUNG. Robby Sayu, 39, quit his job as a salesperson in a Korean company a month ago to focus on his new job with Teknojek, an online motorcycle taxi (ojek) company.

“I saw a good opportunity to become an entrepreneur by inviting my friends and customers to join as well,” Robby told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday. “This network system is more interesting than similar apps because we have to cooperate with our downline for a good cause,” said Robby.

In multi-level marketing (MLM), downline refers to the members recruited by an existing member, who then earns income from their sales and referrals.

In the past month, Robby said he had built a network of 20 drivers and could now earn up to Rp 500,000 (US$36) a day. “The advantage of joining Teknojek is I get to learn how to lead and manage a downline. I also learn how to sell the network to my customers while riding,” he said.

Teknojek was developed by PT Tekno Solusi Kita. The CEO of the start-up, Robert Slamet Dharmadi, said his company was using a multi-level marketing method "so they [drivers] can get extra income apart from driving an ojek”, Robert said.

“They can’t be an ojek driver forever. Age and [a loss of] stamina will affect their productivity someday,” the graduate of Trisakti University said.

Robert said the company took 15 percent from drivers’ income, allocated 5 percent for profit sharing among the drivers, 5 percent for profit sharing among customers and 75 percent for drivers themselves. (Arya Dipa)

Editor: Barratut Taqiyyah Rafie