Taxi drivers’ protests

Romanian taxi drivers have decided to temporarily suspend their protest actions

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Leyla Cheamil, 08.02.2024, 13:50

A few hundred taxi drivers protested on Wednesday in downtown Bucharest, in a protest action organized by the Bucharest-Ilfov Association of Taxi Drivers. Joining them were drivers from other cities, who are disgruntled with a number of legislative changes regarding taxi transport and alternative means of transportation. Taxi drivers also protested the unfair competition coming from alternative transport platforms and want the said companies to abide by the same regulations, which would ensure fair competition and equitable work conditions in this sector.

„Theres just too many Uber and Bolt drivers. They should limit them to 1 per 1,000 inhabitants, compared to taxi drivers, who operate at a 4 per thousand ratio. They should pay the same taxes as we do, and own their own cars, stop using rentals and pay their dues. The 25% tax they pay in the Netherlands should be paid in Romania and they too should be considered employees like the rest of us, have standard employment agreements. They should pay their contributions like the rest of us. All we want is a new regulation in that respect”, one taxi driver said.

On the day of the protest, taxi drivers said they would continue their protest indefinitely unless their demands are met within 30 days. On Wednesday, however, taxi drivers met with the authorities to discuss their terms, which government representatives agreed to. Hence taxi drivers have decided to suspend their protest. The Bucharest-Ilfov Association of Taxi Drivers want the government to enact a 2019 piece of legislation on the taxation of taxi rides and tips via a fiscal entity registered with the National Trade Registry, by suspending the technical permit until the law takes effect. Another demand was limiting the number of specimens based on criteria similar to those applied to taxi driving, which would help improve quality of life and air quality, ease traffic and curb pollution in large cities. Taxi drivers also want the authorities to eliminate the possibility of issuing specimens for vehicles owned by transport operators who use car rentals or free loan agreements, to raise the limit for certification to the E6 emission standard, to ban car wrapping and the display of ads for digital platforms. Referring to taxi drivers protests, Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu expressed concern with citizens best interests and the principle of competitiveness. „We must ensure fair competition, without exceptions”, the Prime Minister said, adding that Romanian legislation should be aligned to relevant laws elsewhere in the EU. (VP)