Polish gov’t approves new ride-hailing rules

The bill was backed in the Sejm, the lower of the Polish parliament, by 231 MPs on Thursday night. Nine were against, with 171 abstentions, public broadcaster Polish Radio’s IAR news agency reported.

Under the new rules, the process of acquiring a taxi licence will be simplified and individuals will be allowed to provide ride services using mobile applications, according to IAR.

The change will also allow the use of mobile applications instead of traditional taxi meters and cash registers.

Earlier in April, hundreds of disgruntled taxi drivers disrupted traffic in the Polish capital to protest against the proposed law.

But during a debate in parliament on Thursday, Infrastructure Minister Andrzej Adamczyk said the new rules would ensure fair competition.

The legislation now goes to the Senate, the upper house of Poland's parliament, for further debate.

The US-based ride-hailing company Uber in January unveiled a plan to invest millions in the southern Polish city of Kraków and in the capital, Warsaw.

(jh/pk)

Source: IAR