One Month After Taxi Subtitle Lifted, Changwon City Taxi Union Urges Reinstatement

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Seryeong] On the 14th, three labor unions, including the Taxi Labor Union Representatives' Council of Changwon City, Gyeongnam, demanded the withdrawal of the taxi restriction lift.

They held a press conference at City Hall and criticized Changwon City's sudden lifting of the taxi restriction on January 1st this year under the name of alleviating passenger shortage.

Earlier, the city stated, "To protect passengers from ride refusals and to meet the demands of the taxi industry, we actively reflected the situation that fits the lifting of the restriction and lifted the restriction."

The Representative Council of the Taxi Labor Union in Changwon-si, Gyeongnam is demanding the reinstatement of the taxi alternating operation system.

The unions explained, "The restriction system is designed to give rest to workers due to the nature of taxis operating 24 hours, manage their health, prevent accidents through vehicle maintenance, and prioritize the safe transportation of passengers."

"Even if it follows the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's directive, there is no effect in alleviating passenger shortage, only an increase in taxi supply, raising concerns about excessive competition in the taxi market," they said. "With over 1,000 individual taxis added, only individual taxi operators receive what is essentially a special benefit, while corporate taxis suffer from poor income and irreparable damage," they appealed.

They added, "It is not too late even now, so immediately withdraw the decision and firmly manage and supervise the issues according to the Taxi Development Act," and also requested, "Please implement support measures that are being carried out in other local governments."

The city stated that it is continuously monitoring monthly to analyze taxi operation conditions and is considering reapplying the restriction to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's Taxi Policy Deliberation Committee if serious damage such as income reduction occurs in the future.

They plan to negotiate with the unions to provide treatment support funds to corporate taxi workers by reviewing support measures from other regions.

According to the city, seven metropolitan local governments provide 50,000 to 100,000 KRW per driver, and among basic local governments, Jinju in Gyeongnam and Wonju in Gangwon Province are reviewing 70,000 KRW.