Saturday, July 2, 2016

Taxi drivers threaten “harder” protests against the Uber – Daily News – Lisbon

government will legalize Uber after the summer. Taxi drivers, unreconstructed, preparing new wave of contestation

the taxi industry associations do not conform to the decision – taken yesterday by the government – to move forward now after the summer with the regulation of transport uncharacterized vehicles and aggregator platforms like Uber and Cabify. And promise to return to the protests with redoubled conviction if the legislation is being prepared to move forward.

“Surely, if we have to go back to the street, will not be as it has been the last times” warned in statements to DN Florencio Almeida, president of the National Association of Road carriers for Passenger Cars (ANTRAL). “There will be much harder for sure. Hopefully it will not happen,” he added.

Yesterday afternoon were released the findings of the working group for the modernization of the sector, created by the government following the controversy between taxi drivers and Uber. The Institute for Mobility and Transport (IMT), which coordinated the work, confirmed in a statement that was already expected:. An open path to legalization platforms like Uber and Spanish Cabify, which entered recently in Portugal

Among the conclusions adopted are the recognition that “the new platforms of mobility solutions they market new dimensions and business models, it is recommended to regulation in the public interest.” And also the need to “regulate the transport activity in mischaracterized vehicle with requirements for access to similar activity to the taxi sector, access to the market in an open and competitive basis, but limited to applications originating from electronic platforms.”

the group also approved some safeguards, including the need to “overcome the unfair competitive factors, including through harmonization of access requirements to activity.” But the taxi drivers were not convinced.

ANTRAL and the Portuguese Federation of Taxi (FPT), who joined the working group ultimately vote won. “The representatives of the taxi sector, ANTRAL and FPT, expressed their disagreement because of affects vehicles to transport mischaracterized vehicle does not have exclusive origin in the current contingent of taxis,” said the IMT.

For Florencio Almeida, what is at issue in the package of proposals is a reinforcement of the obligations of the taxis associated with the path of opening to its competitors: “we will not lightly accept that desregulamente an industry to regulate other which is currently illegal,” he warned. “Taxis in the future will be required to transport the elderly, children and others to do the deals more profitable give,” he criticized.

Government confirms legislation

The right it is that the government seems determined to put into practice these reforms. Speaking to the Journal News, the Secretary of State for the Environment, José Mendes confirmed that it will be the IMT “the preparation of a legislative package regulating the activities of mobility service platforms.” Legislation which, according to that newspaper, will enter into force after the summer.

The Uber reacted cautiously to the recommendation of the working group considering “a good sign” that is in preparation legislation considered , “will benefit the people and life in cities, and bring more opportunities to drivers and operators.”

the last major manifestation of taxi drivers on 29 April, mobilized thousands of professionals across the country. The Uber denounced “acts of violence” against drivers at your service, particularly port.

LikeTweet

No comments:

Post a Comment