It’s not enough to set up a commission of inquiry into Uber’s dealings, according to Belgium’s Workers' party, the PTB, which called on Monday for an end to the transport service’s operations in Belgium, Belga News Agency reports.
“Corruption, evidence hidden from justice, private detectives, infiltration of public administration, manipulation of demonstrators, … the multinational Uber is ready to do anything to impose its model of breaking labour law,” commented the leader of the PTB group in the Brussels parliament, Françoise De Smedt.
“These revelations show that we absolutely can’t trust this multinational,” De Smedt added. “It feels like a movie about the mafia. We don’t just need a commission of inquiry that looks at the past, we need to act now to put an end to Uber. That’s what we are asking the Brussels government.”
In her eyes, the Brussels government, which comprises the PS, Ecolo and DéFi parties, has taken the decision, with its recently voted taxi ordinance, to allow Uber to operate legally on Brussels territory. She described this as “a real gift to this unscrupulous multinational.”
“What guarantee do we have that Uber’s practices will not continue to gain ever more market share,” the PTB group leader asked.
Her party feels the government of Brussels needs to set up a public application as soon as possible to allow all drivers in the sector to work with dignity, as other European cities have been doing.
“After rendering Uber incapable of hurting the taxi sector, Barcelona has had its public Picmi app for some months now,” De Smedt pointed out. “Luxembourg is also investing in an effective public app planned for 2023.
“It is a way for drivers to earn a living properly by eliminating the 25% to 30% commission that Uber takes on each trip.” she explained. “An effective public application is also what users are waiting for to get around.”
