(QCOSTARICA) Driven by Facebook, some Uber drivers are looking to hire other drivers to operate their vehicles, in exchange for payment of a fee, working schedule and rules.
In the same way the driver/owners of formal taxis, these Uber drivers want to maximize their vehicle’s utility, offering them up to other drivers to work shifts up to 12 hours, having their cars on the road around the clock.
“Wanted driver from 6am to 6pm (…),” with conditions of work and coverage begin some ads appearing on Facebook.
Uber says it is aware of the situation and encourages its driver to register the number of vehicles they wish, provided they meet the minimum requirements.
“These things happen often without any guidance from us, these are two people connecting through technology. Nothing to do with us,” said Humberto Pacheco, head of Uber in Costa Rica.
Pacheco went on to explain that the law of supply and demand protects the consumer from owners/drivers who exploit the (growing) Uber situation in the country.
“If a partner (Uber calls its drivers partners) offers unfit conditions, the customer will find another that will provide better,” said Pacheco.
In the works and expected to be ready next month, is a bill to regulate private drive companies using apps such as Uber and Cabify.
The bill aims to force these (and others) companies to register each and every one of their drivers with the Ministry of Economy, Industry and Commerce (MEIC) and linked to a particular vehicle.
Each vehicle would have an ID on the windshield that includes the name of the driver and or cooperative, the license plate number and special sticker for this kind of service.
However, lacking in the development of the bill is the employment relationship and working conditions of the drivers. According to the Ministry of Labour, they, the drivers, are at the mercy of the Ministry of Transport.
Spearheaded by PAC legislator, Franklin Corella, the draft bill calls for:
- all transactions to be in national currency
- a tax of 3% to 5% for each trip that would be earmarked for transportation projects
- allowing only the transport of persons
- maximum passengers of 5 to 7
- applies only to ground transportation (no air or sea)
For its part, Uber says it wants greater autonomy on transactions, the tax is too high, wants the transport of goods included, the maximum number of people should be greater to include groups under its Ubervan and its application should apply to all types of transport, including maritime and air.
Corella explained that in the last several months it has called on Uber to participate in the negotiations, however, they have not been present.
The legislator added that in the coming weeks, prior to the final draft to be presented to the Legislative Assembly, the draft bill will be presented to the transportation sector and government authorities.
“We do not want the transport sector to see it as a threat, rather as an opportunity to regulate the service and improve this new form of mobility,” said PAC legislator.
Source La Republica
