Brussels taxi drivers are demanding justice after years of fighting Uber.
In a judgment delivered by the Brussels Court of Appeal on 23 February 2024, it was confirmed that Uber operated illegally in the Belgian capital between 3 September 2015 and 10 December 2021. This judgment now opens the door for Brussels taxi companies to claim compensation for the significant losses they suffered during this period.
Uber took advantage of a regulatory ambiguity for six years, allowing it to offer its services without having to adhere to the strict rules that apply to traditional taxi companies in Brussels. Although Uber’s illegal activities were stopped in December 2021 by a change in legislation, the damage to taxi drivers had already been done.
struggle
The Brussels taxi sector has been fighting a legal battle for years to prove the illegality of the Uber model. After almost ten years of litigation, this battle was finally crowned with the judgment of February 2024. Taxi drivers and taxi companies in Brussels, who claim to have suffered significant financial damage due to competition from Uber, now have the opportunity to have this damage compensated.
One of the main figures behind this legal battle is BTF (Belgian Taxi Federation), supported by several other organisations such as Taxis Bleus, Ingoboka-Taxi, Elite Taxi and GTL (Association of National Taxi and Chauffeur Companies). Together they are committed to obtaining fair compensation for the entire sector.
“Now that Uber’s mistake has been officially established, it is time for us to assert our rights and demand compensation for the damage suffered,” says a spokesperson for BTF. The sector emphasizes that this collective action is not just an option, but a necessary step to obtain justice. “Our strength lies in our unity. Only by acting together can we exert the necessary pressure and obtain the compensation that is due to us.”
The court's decision makes it clear that Uber has violated taxi regulations in the Brussels-Capital region for years. This means that any income Uber generated during that period was obtained illegally. According to the taxi drivers, it is only right that they be compensated for the losses they suffered as a result.
For many drivers, the financial consequences of Uber's illegal activities are enormous. The loss of income, caused by unfair competition, has left deep wounds for many. "We have worked for years under difficult conditions, while Uber was able to operate without complying with the rules," says a Brussels taxi driver, who supports the class action.
call
The united taxi companies call now all their colleagues in the sector to join this legal action. The bigger the group, the stronger their voice will be in the fight for compensation. “The more taxi drivers join, the greater the collective power will be. We must show that we can no longer be ignored,” said a spokesperson for Elite Taxi.
The future of the Brussels taxi sector is at stake. While Uber is now operating under a new legal framework, the consequences of the past remain visible. It is now up to the taxi drivers to stand up together and demand what is rightfully theirs. The collective action against Uber is more than a fight for compensation – it is a fight for justice and the restoration of balance in the sector.
