Ola and Uber, the two cab-hailing giant companies are facing tough times as their Rajasthani taxi drivers are conducting a hunger strike from today due to disagreements against the rates of commission charged by their companies that they deem too high.
The drivers also conducted a strike last month that lasted nine days and ended only when the tech-firms agreed to meet some of the drivers’ demands and promised to look further in the matter of others. The drivers’ association also pressed both Ola and Uber to stop the fleet cars whereby a driver is provided a car by the company against minimal rates and a compulsory fee of Rs 1,100 daily to the firms.
“The company is adding up new cars every day. The competition is tough and it is getting difficult to get work. Hence, we are demanding that they should stop adding up new cars and lower the commission from 25% to 10% as it has become extremely difficult for us to pay back our car loans,” said Rajesh Kuntal, President of the Rajasthan drivers association.
The drivers are also demanding both cab-hailing market leaders to follow the rules imposed by the Regional Transport Office, provide drivers with insurance worth Rs 20 lakh and transfer the rights of fleet cars to the drivers.