There will be fewer official taxis waiting outside the Brussels Airport arrivals hall on Friday as several drivers carry out a strike.
The official taxis that operate from the airport can be recognised by the T number plate and the blue-and-yellow symbol at the front of the taxi. They can be used by travellers without being booked in advance.
However, there may be a longer queue than usual for this service as taxi drivers serving the airport will hold a strike action for 2.5 hours on Friday from 15:00 to 17:30.
Nathalie Pierard, a spokesperson for Brussels Airport, told Belga News Agency that the taxi capacity may be reduced, and passengers arriving at the airport are advised to take public transport when leaving.
The strike aims to protest against the Flemish Region’s insistence on mandating all taxi drivers operating from the airport to pass a B1 level Dutch exam by 1 July 2024.
The level stands for 'clear language', and is the middle level going from A1 (the lowest level) to C1 (the highest). People who pass this exam can express themselves in that language without much difficulty.
Massive job losses
Brussels Airport is located in Zaventem on Flemish territory, but many taxi drivers are said to come from French-speaking Brussels, meaning many don't have this level of language comprehension.
When the plans were initially announced, several taxi drivers expressed their concerns about this measure. GTL Taxi, the National Grouping of Companies with Taxi and Location Vehicles with Drivers, noted that this requirement standard is set too high. The current level is set at A2.
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The group argued that the language test should be adapted specifically for this target group, and stressed that if this becomes a requirement, more needs to be done to bring down the long waiting lists for such language tests. "This should not jeopardise the recruitment of new drivers."
According to campaigners, if the Flemish Government goes ahead with the plan, the situation could result in job losses for 75% of taxi drivers due to inadequate Dutch language skills.
François De Smet, President of DéFI, expressed his support for the taxi drivers, stating on social media that the drivers are right.
"This test is annoying and disproportionate. Nationalism in its irrational vision against all economic logic."
