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28 March 2024

Sharjah taxi drivers begin to return to work

Drivers who have returned to work say they did so after listening to the management’s explanations and also because they cannot afford to lose their jobs at the present juncture. (SUPPLIED)

Published
By Joseph George

Majority of drivers belonging to Emirates Taxi in Sharjah have returned to work even as others continued with their protest against the hike in their daily collection target.

Several other cabbies from other companies operating taxi service in Sharjah also are driving their vehicles, following the management’s announcement that those who do not want to work are free to leave.

Drivers who have returned to work say they did so after listening to the management’s explanations and also because they cannot afford to lose their jobs at the present juncture.

“We are deciding to continue to work because I cannot afford to leave my job and return home, “ said one driver from Emirates Taxi. According to him more than700 vehicles of Emirates Taxi are continuing to operate.

Similarly more than fifty per cent of the fleet of Citi and Advantage Taxi is slao said to be operating. “It is the drivers of the Union taxi who are the majority of those who have stopped work,” said another driver of Citi taxi.

According to him more drivers will quit the job once they receive their salaries on November 10.

All taxi drivers are paid their commission on the tenth of every month. “We submitted our monthly target on October 31. The percentage earnings for the month will only be distributed on Wednesday. Just wait for more taxis to go off the road on Thursday,” he said.

Drivers who have decided to resign their jobs have been assembling at the Sharjah labour office to submit their complaints. “There were many who had gathered there this morning as well,” he added.

Cabbies of Union Taxi started their protest on November 1 after the company decided to hike the collection target by more than 20 per cent. Drivers have complained that their earnings would drop by almost Dh1000 because of the new decision.