A minimum of 200 drivers employed by ride-hailing platforms together with Uber are demanding decrease commissions, greater pay charges, and unified guidelines for taxis and so-called avenue cabs in Belgium.
The demonstration in Brussels on Thursday was organised by the Belgian Affiliation of Limousine Drivers and concerned drivers working for ride-hailing platforms together with Uber and Bolt.
A number of the drivers stated they have been on the point of submitting for chapter because of rising commissions and competitors from different ride-share apps and conventional taxis.
The protesters met with unions earlier than heading to the Brussels parliament and Uber headquarters the place they vented their frustrations.
Shah Syed, a ‘avenue cab’ driver, stated the present fee of 25% goes up an additional 10%.
”It is catastrophic. Frankly, it is actually catastrophic. In any case, for me personally, I earn half of what I did earlier than,” he stated.
Slicing additional into their incomes, ride-hailing drivers are being compelled to modify to electrical autos by January 2025.
Jean-Paul Mbenti, President of the Belgian Limousine Drivers Affiliation (ABCL), stated members are calling on the federal government to postpone that requirement by two years.
”We’re not prepared. We do not have the charging stations and so forth and we’ve not even seen the means but. So we’re complaining about profitability. They are not going to impose autos on us that price €50,000 to 70,000,” he stated.
The affiliation can also be calling on the parliament to enhance regulation of the sector, particularly, capping the commissions taken by platforms homeowners.
Conventional taxi drivers who additionally took half within the demonstration expressed frustration over working circumstances and wages because of ”unfair” competitors from ride-sharing platforms, in line with the ABCL.
These drivers desire a minimal fee, excluding fee, with fare changes for nights or holidays along with separate pick-up zones.
