Uber can provide taxi services in Taiwan if it conducts its business according to the government’s regulations and engages in fair competitive practices, Minister of Transportation and Communications Hochen Tan (賀陳旦) said yesterday.
The minister made the comments after both Uber and taxi operators appealed to the public by talking on radio shows on Monday and yesterday.
Uber said that the nation has yet to have rules in place to regulate innovative services like Uber, while taxi operators said that they would support the government’s diversified taxi service policy only if the government asks Uber, which has been operating illegally for three years, to withdraw its investment from Taiwan.
Hochen also went on a Taipei Pop Radio show to talk about some of the significant challenges facing the ministry, and issues concerning Uber and its drivers were again on the show’s agenda.
He said that Uber is a company developing a taxi business in Taiwan by using a technology that was made possible through the Internet, adding that it should not be given special treatment just because it is widely perceived as an example of the sharing economy.
People should “call a spade a spade,” he said.
Hochen said that the government considers that taxi services are, in a broader sense, a part of the public transport system.
As such, the government provides subsidies to taxi operators and expects them to offer safe and professional services to the public, he said, adding that laws require taxi operators to meet such expectations.
Uber must fulfill these legal requirements if it wants to be a legitimate taxi-service provider, he said.
Existing taxi operators should be encouraged to use the Internet, as well as branding strategies to develop new services, he added.
Asked if the ministry would consider proposing a new act only to regulate innovative services like Uber, Hochen said that such a bill is not likely to secure legislative approval because it would essentially encourage unfair competitive practices.
“I don’t think that special legislation for services like Uber is the easiest way to take to resolve all the problems, unless the company can make a case that its business model actually facilitates fair competition in the market,” he said.
Hochen said that any new act would have to identify the obligations of a taxi service provider, including hiring only certified drivers and paying taxes, he said.
The act would not encourage fair competition if none of these obligations were mentioned, he added.
“The trend in the service industry is to give consumers the freedom to choose, but the ministry has to make it clear to people the price they have to pay for making that choice, and the foundation that the choice is built on,” he said.
“We hope that Uber can truthfully reflect the incurred costs on its operation to fulfill the government’s requirement for safe and professional service,” Hochen said, adding that the government simply cannot ignore risks that consumers might be exposed to if they choose Uber services.
Hochen told taxi operators they cannot disregard competition from Uber.
“The government will continue fining Uber and its drivers. However, legal taxi operators should also offer quality services, enhancing their corporate image. They should work with us and discuss with us any regulatory changes that would reinforce their competitive edge,” he added.
The Central Weather Administration (CWA) today issued a "tsunami watch" alert after a magnitude 8.7 earthquake struck off the Kamchatka Peninsula in northeastern Russia earlier in the morning. The quake struck off the east coast of the Kamchatka Peninsula at 7:25am (Taiwan time) at a depth of about 19km, the CWA said, citing figures from the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center. The CWA's Seismological Center said preliminary assessments indicate that a tsunami could reach Taiwan's coastal areas by 1:18pm today. The CWA urged residents along the coast to stay alert and take necessary precautions as waves as high as 1m could hit the southeastern
The National Museum of Taiwan Literature is next month to hold an exhibition in Osaka, Japan, showcasing the rich and unique history of Taiwanese folklore and literature. The exhibition, which is to run from Aug. 10 to Aug. 20 at the city’s Central Public Hall, is part of the “We Taiwan” at Expo 2025 series, highlighting Taiwan’s cultural ties with the international community, National Museum of Taiwan Literature director Chen Ying-fang (陳瑩芳) said. Folklore and literature, among Taiwan’s richest cultural heritages, naturally deserve a central place in the global dialogue, Chen said. Taiwan’s folklore would be immediately apparent at the entrance of the
“China is preparing to invade Taiwan,” Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Francois Wu (吳志中) said in an exclusive interview with British media channel Sky News for a special report titled, “Is Taiwan ready for a Chinese invasion?” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said today in a statement. The 25-minute-long special report by Helen Ann-Smith released yesterday saw Sky News travel to Penghu, Taoyuan and Taipei to discuss the possibility of a Chinese invasion and how Taiwan is preparing for an attack. The film observed emergency response drills, interviewed baseball fans at the Taipei Dome on their views of US President
Speeding and badly maintained roads were the main causes of a school bus accident on a rainy day in Taipei last year that severely injured two people and left 22 with minor injuries, the Taiwan Transportation and Safety Board said. On March 11 last year, a Kang Chiao International School bus overturned inside the Wenshan Tunnel (文山隧道) on the northbound lane of the Xinyi Expressway. The tour bus, owned by Long Lai Co, exceeded the speed limit after entering the tunnel, the board’s investigation found. Sensing that the rear of the vehicle was swaying, the driver attempted to use the service and exhaust
RSS