In Brussels, dozens of taxi drivers are demonstrating at Uber's headquarters and the Brussels Parliament, in protest against unfair competition from taxi platforms such as Uber and Bolt.
This action is organised by the Belgian Limousine Drivers Association (ABCL), which is calling for legislative reforms to restore the balance between street taxis and digital taxi services. The protest began early in the morning, with a meeting of taxi drivers in front of the Uber office in Etterbeek, after which the procession moved to Place Poelaert and the Brussels Parliament. This route was deliberately chosen to also pass by the socialist trade union ABVV, which the taxi drivers claim supports Uber's interests.
Traditional street taxis, which were officially known as 'rental of vehicles with driver' until 2022, say that the current regulations are increasingly causing them problems. The drivers emphasize that they are struggling with drastic drops in turnover since the rise of taxi platforms, which seem to have almost free rein under the current rules. According to ABCL, many drivers are struggling to keep their heads above water and some are even at risk of going bankrupt. "Most street taxi drivers are on the brink of bankruptcy," they say. They are calling for a revision of the legislation to create a level playing field.
One of ABCL’s main demands is the introduction of a minimum rate that is independent of commission costs, with rates that can be adjusted for night rides or on public holidays. Currently, platforms like Uber set these rates themselves, which results in drivers earning less and being dependent on fluctuating commissions. According to ABCL, a legal minimum rate would guarantee drivers a fairer income and alleviate the financial pressure caused by the platforms’ low prices. ABCL also advocates a maximum percentage for the commission costs that platforms can charge, so that drivers do not lose even more income to platform costs.
The organisation also advocates exclusive ranks for street taxis, where they can wait for customers without competition from platform drivers. This would allow drivers to offer their services in a stable way without competing with platform drivers who often have different rates and working conditions. ABCL sees the integration of a 'single status' for street taxis and rank taxis as an important point to create a uniform standard in the Brussels taxi market, so that different rules do not apply to different types of taxi services.
Another major sticking point is the introduction of the low-emission zone in Brussels. From January 2025, all taxis must be fully electric, but drivers fear that they will not be able to make this transition financially, certainly not in the short time that remains. Although the Brussels government recently decided to postpone the introduction of this zone for private individuals until 2027, this exception does not apply to taxis. ABCL therefore urgently requests that the same postponement be applied to them as well, so that drivers have more time to switch to electric vehicles.
The protest in Brussels aims to draw attention to the dire situation of street taxis and to start a dialogue with policymakers about the future of the Brussels taxi market. The taxi drivers hope that the Brussels government will be willing to consider their demands and come to a fair and sustainable solution.
