2016年CRI Reform Expected to "Make" Taxi Market Fairer

 

Wang is a taxi driver in his fifties. He's been driving cabs in Beijing for a long time.

He says he made a loss in the first two months of this year, and estimates he'll see another loss in March.

"Last year, since the popularity of the app, it has become harder and harder to make money. Previously¹, I could earn 400 or even 500 yuan a day. But now my daily income is around 300 yuan."

Drivers have to pay a fixed² amount every month, which includes the government's portion of franchise³ fees, vehicle depreciation⁴, insurance and management fees, regardless of how much they earn. Wang says the monthly fee imposed on taxi drivers is a heavy burden.

"5,500 yuan (per month). That is about 200 yuan per day. I think we're overcharged. Taxi companies should cut the fee, and the government should take some action. "

In addition, traditional taxi companies have to pay municipal authorities in order to get licenses⁵ to operate their business. Those costs are also passed on to the drivers.

The new high tech arrivals in the sector⁶, the ride-sharing services such as Uber and Didi are exempted⁷ from such fees as well as other regulations.

Liu Xiaoming, head of Transport Service Department of the Ministry⁸ of Transport, says they are aware of the inequality.

"If only traditional taxi drivers have to pay the fee, obviously, it would create an unfair competition environment between old and new players. Therefore, we have made it clear that the right to operate taxis must be free of charges within a limited period."

Liu says they would like to ease the burden on traditional taxi drivers, and encourage them to gain a larger market share by providing a better service.

The official added, to reach that goal, the authorities are planning to establish a mechanism⁹ through which taxi drivers can bargain with the companies over monthly fees. He said the scheme would involve many stakeholders.

"Industry associations, enterprises, taxi drivers, trade unions and the governments, among which three players are expected to play more important roles, namely trade unions, industry associations and the governments."

Liu believes the involvement of all those players will help reach a reasonable consensus¹⁰ over monthly fees so as to ensure sustainable development of the taxi market.

In response to the plan, many taxi drivers, including Wang, have called for a stronger role for trade unions to better voice their concerns.

1 previously   

adv.以前，先前（地）

参考例句：

• The bicycle tyre blew out at a previously damaged point.自行车胎在以前损坏过的地方又爆开了。
• Let me digress for a moment and explain what had happened previously.让我岔开一会儿，解释原先发生了什么。

2 fixed   

adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的

参考例句：

• Have you two fixed on a date for the wedding yet?你们俩选定婚期了吗？
• Once the aim is fixed,we should not change it arbitrarily.目标一旦确定，我们就不应该随意改变。

3 franchise   

n.特许，特权，专营权，特许权

参考例句：

• Catering in the schools is run on a franchise basis.学校餐饮服务以特许权经营。
• The United States granted the franchise to women in 1920.美国于1920年给妇女以参政权。

4 depreciation   

n.价值低落，贬值，蔑视，贬低

参考例句：

• She can't bear the depreciation of the enemy.她受不了敌人的蹂躏。
• They wrote off 500 for depreciation of machinery.他们注销了500镑作为机器折旧费。

5 licenses   

n.执照( license的名词复数 )v.批准，许可，颁发执照( license的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• Drivers have ten days' grace to renew their licenses. 驾驶员更换执照有10天的宽限期。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Jewish firms couldn't get import or export licenses or raw materials. 犹太人的企业得不到进出口许可证或原料。 来自辞典例句

6 sector   

n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形

参考例句：

• The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
• The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。

7 exempted   

使免除[豁免]( exempt的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• His bad eyesight exempted him from military service. 他因视力不好而免服兵役。
• Her illness exempted her from the examination. 她因病而免试。

8 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

9 mechanism   

n.机械装置；机构，结构

参考例句：

• The bones and muscles are parts of the mechanism of the body.骨骼和肌肉是人体的组成部件。
• The mechanism of the machine is very complicated.这台机器的结构是非常复杂的。

10 consensus   

n.(意见等的)一致，一致同意，共识

参考例句：

• Can we reach a consensus on this issue?我们能在这个问题上取得一致意见吗？
• What is the consensus of opinion at the afternoon meeting?下午会议上一致的意见是什么？