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Brussels taxis at half price today!

The Brussels official taxis are offering their services at half the normal price on Sunday. It's a protest action against the controversial private taxi service Uber, under which members of the public are offering cheap taxi rides via a smartphone application. Official taxi drivers are complaining of unfair competition by what they call the "Uberisation" of the economy.
Michaël Torfs

The initiative has been joined by some 1,500 taxi drivers operating in the Brussels and Zaventem area. The action started around 8am and will run until 6pm. It's reported to be a success, with taxi drivers saying that many customers have expressed their support and understanding for their situation. Taxi drivers are distributing leaflets and folders containing "7 reasons to prefer a legal taxi over an illegal taxi."

Pierre Steenberghen of the national taxi organisation explains that Uber is not paying any taxes or social security contributions, which allows them to be cheaper.

"The rate we are offering today is the price we would ask if we would enjoy the same conditions as Uber. If we don't have to pay taxes, social security, VAT etc. then we can also drive at half price. So today we are making a loss, but it's a present to customers to show them: this 50 per cent, this may be nothing for you, but for us this is hard to bear", Van Steenberghen told the VRT. 

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