Transport Malta mum on upcoming changes to Taxi industry
Transport Malta is “still in consultation with the relevant stakeholders” with regards to changes to the Taxi industry by ways of the amending of the Public Service Garage License legislation, a spokesperson for the agency said.
A month ago, The Malta Independent on Sunday reported that several sources within the taxi industry were noting irregularities resulting from the new taxi platforms introduced to the market over the past few years are creating unfair competition for some companies and could also be dangerous to consumers.
Transport Malta was also previously asked to explain how it enforces such regulations and whether any changes are being considered to allow self-employed taxi drivers to work with public service garages.
They had previously said that, “Transport Malta is in discussions with various stakeholders as it is in the process of reviewing the Public Service Garage License legislation, and currently it is not considering a change in regulations to allow self-employed taxi drivers to work with public service garage companies.
“It is to be noted that Transport Malta enforcement officers patrol the roads and intervene if they encounter irregularities. It is Transport Malta’s objective to allow for a revision of the legislation that will further help curb abuses.”
Following questions as to any specific legislative changes, and whether there will be a public consultation, the spokesperson informed this newsroom that, “any developments will be announced in due course”.
Unfair Competition and Safety Concerns
There are two kinds of taxi services in Malta – white taxis and all other chauffeur-driven services – which are regulated differently.
For instance, while white taxis are permitted to stay on the road when they are not carrying passengers, other service vehicles must return to a public service garage. A number of problems surround the latter type of service, this newspaper had been told.
According to several industry sources, many of these issues involve the growing number of companies which offer online platforms for drivers and mobile users to connect, but which are not considered transport operators.
Questionable vetting practices and assessment of the state of the drivers for signs of alcohol consumption or exhaustion when they sign in for work were singled out as real issues that have to be considered in this case.
Worse still, sources say there have been instances of third parties allowed to take over the wheel who are not registered on a platform and properly licensed as chauffeur drivers.
In addition, taxi drivers (who are not drivers of white taxis) cannot be self-employed, the industry sources said, while adding that a number of drivers who operate with these online platforms are working as selfemployed drivers.
They explained that there is no communication between the Inland Revenue Department and Transport Malta in terms of this issue, and said a number of these taxi drivers are registering as self-employed when, by law, they cannot be.
Another problem, industry sources say, is that some drivers have taken to leasing vehicles and spaces from public service garage owners to be used as taxis through platform-based companies without links to that garage, even though this is prohibited, as confirmed by Transport Malta. The Motor Vehicle Regulations describe a motor vehicle for hire as vehicles used for the carriage of passengers “registered to be hired from a public service garage, and driven by the garage owner or by any person employed by him.”
“All we are asking for is fair competition and a level playing field,” the sources explain. “Either change the law to bring those companies in line with it or start enforcing current regulations.”