Economy ministry signs agreement with taxi companies, unions on Uber app

Budapest (MTI) – As the Uber app which lets users get a taxi, private car or rideshare from their mobile phone is getting increasingly popular in Hungary, and rules are needed to ensure equal conditions for the people providing the service, as well as the protection of domestic taxi companies and users, the economy ministry said on Monday.

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With these goals in mind, the ministry’s state secretary for regulation met representatives of unions and taxi companies. Bela Glattfelder and the other participants agreed that Uber should not be allowed to gain a competitive advantage against other taxi operators which operate fairly and follow the related legal requirements.

Union representatives objected to the idea that people providing services via Uber may not comply with the strict rules set down for ordinary taxi services such as providing a bill, insurance and submitting themselves to rigorous checks by the authorities.

The participants agreed to continue working towards the creation of an appropriate regulatory environment, the ministry said.

The national development ministry said last Monday that it had no objections to Uber if the same legal conditions are met during its operation as those applying to taxis.

According to the ministry, the new service would then only differ from conventional taxis in using a more modern method of finding passengers. At the same time, Uber must not be allowed to gain an advantage in competition by not meeting the legal requirements on passenger services, the statement added.

Uber, which operates in several countries, was launched in Budapest in the first half of November.

Photo: www.fotaxi.hu

Source: http://mtva.hu/hu/hungary-matters