At least 200 drivers employed by ride-hailing platforms, together with Uber, are demanding decrease commissions, greater wages and unified guidelines for taxis and so-called road taxis in Belgium.
Thursday’s demonstration in Brussels was organized by the Belgian Association of Limousine Drivers and concerned drivers working for ride-hailing platforms together with Uber and Bolt.
Some drivers have stated they’re on the verge of submitting for chapter as a result of rising commissions and competitors from different ride-sharing apps and conventional taxis.
Protesters met with unions earlier than heading to parliament in Brussels and Uber’s headquarters the place they vented their frustrations.
Shah Syed, a taxi driver, stated the present 25% fee will enhance by one other 10%.
”It’s catastrophic. Frankly, it is actually catastrophic. In any case, so far as I’m personally involved, I earn half of what I earned earlier than,” he stated.
Cutting their incomes additional, ride-hailing drivers might be compelled to change to electrical autos by January 2025.
Jean-Paul Mbenti, president of the Belgian Association of Limousine Drivers (ABCL), stated members are calling on the federal government to postpone this obligation for 2 years.
”We are usually not prepared. We do not have charging stations or the rest and we have not even seen the autos but. So we complain about profitability. They is not going to impose autos on us that value between 50,000 and 70,000 euros,” he stated.
The affiliation additionally asks Parliament to enhance regulation of the sector, particularly to restrict the commissions taken by platform homeowners.
According to the ABCL, conventional taxi drivers who took half within the demonstration expressed frustration over working circumstances and wages as a result of “unfair” competitors from ride-sharing platforms.
These drivers desire a minimal fare, not together with fee, with price changes for nights or holidays together with separate pickup zones.
