As Uber works toward making its service legal with Thai officials, the Bangkok Taxi Cooperative asked the Ministry of Transport today to stop whatever they’re doing that will lead to a legalization of ride-sharing services.
The cooperative reasoned that, if the law is amended to allow private cars to be used as taxi services, it will only benefit Uber and create problems for registered taxi drivers, according to president Vitoon Naewpanich.
Vitoon said the number of registered tax drivers in Bangkok is 150,000, but he didn’t say how many of them will actually accept passengers.
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He said that the legalization of private car services would affect the livelihood of registered taxi drivers, who now earn less than THB300 in profit per day.
However, Transport Minister Ormsin Chivapruek said that the decision remains inconclusive and requires discussions with all parties concerned. He assured that all sides would be fairly treated.
Ormsin also said that the plan to raise taxi charges by 5 percent is on pause, Thai PBS reported.
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