Ride-hailing applications' drivers demand reforms amid increasing expenses, fees

AMMAN — Ride-hailing applications' drivers on Monday organised a sit-in in front of the Land Transportation Regulatory Commission (LTRC).

“Ride-hailing companies are not complying with the LTRC’s decisions and drivers no longer had a choice but to gather in front of the LTRC,” Omar Rumman, a ride-hailing application driver, told The Jordan Times.

Decreasing permit fees from JD400 to JD200, cancelling fees of JD400 on drivers when changing the car they use, are among the demands drivers are requiring. 

 “The LTRC needs to suspend the work of unlicensed ride-hailing companies,” Rumman said.

Talking about the ride-hailing market in Jordan during a Facebook Live on Sunday with ride-hailing application representative, Deputy President of the Transport Services and Taxi Owners Union Mohammad Al Hadid said: “It is important to conduct a joint study between representatives of ride-hailing services and the Land Transportation Regulatory Commission, in order to see if the local market is in need of more cars working for the applications.”

Hadid added that currently the local market does not need any new cars.

Ride-hailing service users have decreased amid the pandemic, but drivers still suffer from multiple challenges, most notably the very high percentage ride-hailing companies deduct from drivers, Samer Badran, a ride-hailing application driver, told The Jordan Times.

Badran added that the rise in fuel prices has also negatively impacted the drivers and increased their expenses.

“We hoped to recover from the losses of last year, but this year is almost over and nothing has improved,” he stated.

Over 13,000 drivers work with ride-hailing applications in the Kingdom, and almost 4,000 drivers “drowning in debt” are taken to courts, Ride-hailing Applications Drivers’ Union Spokesperson Lorans Refai, recently told The Jordan Times.