… to face the competition
JM reports that the Regional Secretary for Economy guaranteed support for taxi drivers while speaking at the inauguration of the new headquarters of the TAXISRAM association, in Nazaré yesterday.
Rui Barreto, who began by thanking the many taxi drivers present for their decades-long work in the service of Madeira and Madeirans, recalled the role of taxi drivers in the Region, especially “when there was no public transport as we have today to help people move … it was the taxi drivers who did it”.
Under what JM describe as the watchful eyes of dozens of taxi drivers, the regional secretary stated that “they are not just the drivers who are in the square, they were always someone who was there to help in difficult times.”
In his speech, the official also underlined that the taxi sector was one of the most affected by the pandemic which, together with the entry of TVDE (electronic platform) in the Region, caused a sharp drop in revenues.
But regarding the ‘Uber law’, which allowed the entry of electronic platforms in Madeira, the government official called for himself and the Regional Government to work on permanent dialogue with the sector’s representative associations, which culminated in a “fair law for the taxi sector”, he said.
“Region defends taxi drivers”
According to the regional secretary for the economy, Madeira is the region in the country that best defended the taxi sector and its professionals, through the law approved in the regional parliament. “The Government’s mission was difficult, but the Government serves to mediate interests. There is a new sector (TVDE), but there was also a sector that we respect a lot”, he underlined, adding that Madeira could not allow “a law made in the Assembly of the Republic to kill the taxi sector and put 1,900 families at risk”.
“When it was necessary to hear the needs, we were there. We supported 930 thousand euros, exempted the payment of periodic inspections, exempted the payment of taximeter verification fees and we are working so that you have digital means, so that you can relate to customers in the same way as others already do. they do”, he guaranteed.
But because it is necessary for the sector to adapt, Barreto promises that the Government will make available to taxi drivers “the same means and the same weapons to face the competition”, he concluded.
COVID-19 in Madeira: daily updates can be found in an earlier post
Vaccinations in Madeira: updates can be found in an earlier post
They charge enough to look after themselves!
Where is my compensation ? for being ripped off by these yellow taxi drivers ?people avoid these guys at all costs!!
Never had a problem in the 11 years we lived there
In over 20 years of visiting we have never been ripped off.
We have been regular visitors for 30 + years. Only once did a driver try to rip us off and he was a recent immigrant from Venezuela. We knew the rules rather better than he did!! So it didn’t happen. All the local drivers are courteous friendly and very fair!
Used taxis a few times when visiting with the grandchildren.
Only on one occasion did we experience rudeness and feel the driver was trying his luck.
We also got to know a lovely driver whom we had the good fortune to use on a few occassions.
People in all walks of life can be dishonest.