Date
23 November 2021

Tag

Active

Country
Belgium Belgium
Geographical scope
Regional
Type
  • Type

    Regulation of passenger transport

    Legal

Description

In March 2021, the Brussels government decided that independent drivers working via platforms such as Uber and Heetch must not use their smartphones when accepting rides. With this decision, the government is evoking legislation dating back to 1995 that limits the usage of ‘radio communication devices’ (radio transmitters) to taxi drivers only. However, it was largely interpreted as an attempt to limit the operations and hamper the expansion of the platform business model as it effectively serves as a ban of Uber and Heeth in the city. The decision impacts about 2000 Uber drivers in the Belgian capital, who protested against it since it severely limits their work and leaves them in a state of legal uncertainty. Also, the Association of Belgian Limousine Drivers (ABCL) as well as the United Freelancers Union (UF/CSC) have spoken out against the decision. The drivers and the supporting organisations demand a comprehensive Taxi Plan that encompasses Taxi drivers as well as platform drivers. This plan had already been promised by the Brussels regional government, but so far it has only been implemented in Flanders.  

The current plan has been criticised for its lack of clarity as it allows Uber to circumvent rules applying for taxis by classifying as limousine service. The taxi sector (important actors being the Brussels Taxi Federation (BFT), the Taxi Workers Collective (CTT), and Ingoboka-Taxi) sees another issue in creating a fair system of licenses, which currently must be obtained by taxi drivers, but which does not account for Uber drivers. Therefore, it resembles the system of license renting similar to the one implemented in France. Furthermore, there is substantial disagreement over the definition of taxi drivers and platform drivers: While the taxi sector demands the new Taxi plan to lay out clear distinctions of taxi drivers and private chauffeurs, the platforms (Uber in particular) demand for a harmonisation of the legislation for both groups of drivers.


Additional metadata

Keywords
sector aspects, competition, lobbying
Actors
Platform, Employee organisation, Government
Sector
Transportation and storage
Platforms
Heetch

Sources

Citation

Eurofound (2021), Brussels vs. Uber (Initiative), Record number 2424, Platform Economy Database, Dublin, https://apps.eurofound.europa.eu/platformeconomydb/brussels-vs-uber-105704.