THE Victorian taxi industry needs “urgent, radical reform”, according to a new report co-produced by the Footscray Community Legal Centre (FCLC).
The wide-ranging In the Driver’s Seat report was produced by the Taxi Driver Legal Clinic — a joint project of the FCLC and the Federation of Community Legal Centres Victoria — based on the experiences of 169 drivers.
The report found many drivers are part of the ‘working poor’, struggling to meet living expenses despite working up to 72 hours a week. Most drivers are international students or recent immigrants, some arriving as refugees, who drive taxis belonging to large operators or fleets.
The drivers usually have limited job prospects so are reluctant to complain about unfair treatment by taxi owners.
The report has been delivered to Professor Allan Fels to assist his Taxi Industry Inquiry.
Report author and community lawyer Lucie O’Brien said the Footscray-based clinic’s work with Melbourne’s taxi drivers had shown the industry needed urgent reform.
“We welcome the opportunity to contribute to the Taxi Industry Inquiry and strongly support Professor Fels’ proposals. These reforms will benefit the whole community,” she said.
“By improving working conditions, they’ll reduce driver turnover and improve standards in the industry.”
The report shows taxi drivers work long hours in difficult and dangerous conditions but with few legal rights and little bargaining power.
Drivers have many of the obligations but few of the protections of employees. The report makes seven recommendations, including the scrapping of agreements that exploit drivers, reform to insurance and an audit of Victorian taxi clubs.
“The Victorian government should take legislative action to address exploitation in the taxi industry and to ensure drivers enjoy the basic entitlements of employees,” it recommends.
“The government must follow the lead of NSW by introducing compulsory comprehensive insurance in the taxi industry. This would protect drivers from accident-related legal problems, debt and associated ill health.” The reforms would benefit the public by raising standards in the industry and addressing “the widespread dissatisfaction with Victoria’s taxi industry”.
