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Union proposed to protect rights of cab drivers
(China Daily by Li Jing)
Updated: 2004-02-19 23:50 Complaints from Beijing taxi drivers that they
work long hours but make little money after payments to their monopoly bosses
have aroused concerns among members of the municipal legislature and the top
advisory conference.
Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) Beijing Committee
deputy Qiang Lei told China Daily that the worrying conditions for cabbies must
be settled urgently.
"Setting up trade unions at taxi management companies is a reasonable way to
safeguard the rights of drivers," said Qiang, a professor at the Beijing
Business Management Cadres Training College.
After years of investigation, Qiang said almost all Beijing taxi drivers tell
the same story.
They have to pay around 40,000 yuan (US$4,800) in cab deposits first to a
taxi company in order to obtain licences.
Many get up early and drive their company-owned cabs for at least 13-14 hours
almost everyday. In a good month, they can earn about 8,000 yuan (US$970).
However, whether it's a good or bad month, they must pay their companies, or
beneficiaries in the monopolized sector, at least 4,800 yuan (US$580) as rental
fees.
"What's more, the drivers themselves must pay for gas and maintenance besides
the income taxes, which is an additional 2,200 yuan (US$266),'' said Qiang. "Do
not mention that if a driver violates traffic rules, his companies will fine him
at least 1,000 yuan (US$121)."
Taxi service in the capital city has remained a monopolized sector, in which
taxi companies hold licences for taxi drivers. A senior official from the
Municipal Transportation Commission said on Tuesday that the sector was unlikely
to be open this year.
"Considering the overloaded work hours, prohibitive cab deposits, expensive
rental fees and heavy fines that taxi drivers deal with, all these lead to
worrying conditions for the workers," said Qiang. "All these problems should be
solved by trade unions, which can negotiate with taxi companies and related
government organs."
"After all, the strength of a trade union is much stronger than that of a
single person."
The professor said he heard many complaints from cabbies and some even want
to go on strike.
"Taxi drivers are definitely workers and they must have the right to join a
union according to law," Qiang noted.
He said that the situation would be very serious if the nearly 10,000 Beijing
cabbies were to go on strike, as "the city would be immediately crippled."
However, most drivers dare not express their complaints openly but have to
accept all the clauses on the labour contract set by the taxi companies,
"because thousands of people in the countryside are waiting for the limited
number of posts without any requirements," said Qiang.
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