UAE | General
Taxi drivers protest 'salary cuts' in Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi witnessed its first protest by taxi drivers on Sunday since the new silver taxis run by seven franchises were introduced in November 2007.
- By Binsal Abdul Kader, Staff Reporter
- Published: 00:05 July 21, 2008
- About 50 taxi drivers gather near Mina port in Abu Dhabi on Sunday to protest salary cuts for traffic offences and not meeting targets.
- Image Credit: Ahmed Kutty/Gulf News
Abu Dhabi: Abu Dhabi witnessed its first protest by taxi drivers on Sunday since the new silver taxis run by seven franchises were introduced in November 2007.
About 50 taxi drivers from one taxi company went on protest yesterday morning, against alleged 'salary cuts'. However, most of the drivers had returned to work by evening, following the intervention of the police and the Ministry of Labour, said Trans AD, the Centre for Regulation of Transport by Hire Cars.
"Most of them were convinced when the authorities said it was illegal to carry out any sort of protest," Huda Al Ka'abi, Communication officer at Trans AD, told Gulf News.
"They were demanding that 'cuts' on traffic offences be waived but the job contract signed by them stipulates otherwise," said the official.
The divers told Gulf News that their salaries were cut for not meeting their daily target of Dh350.
"Apart from that, we have to bear a number of other 'cuts' on the fines imposed by the traffic police and Trans AD", said A. M, a taxi driver.
"We are compelled to work more than 14 hours to meet the target", said S.A, another taxi driver.
Refuting the allegation regarding 'high targets', the manager said the company has set a daily target of Dh300 as most drivers easily made Dh400.
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