The comments came after several Portuguese newspapers reported the environment minister, João Pedro Matos Fernandes, as saying that legislation to legalise mobile applications, such as Uber and rival Cabify, used by members of the public to call a car, was ready and would be passed on to sector associations this week as it goes out to public consultation, with a view to its being in force by the end of the year. As it stands, it requires that drivers registered on the app must complete training and pass a test, while no changes are foreseen to laws covering the licensed taxis with which they compete.
Uber welcomed the news, while taxi associations reacted with anger.
“It seems to us, given what has been reported, that the government has listened to the great majority of Portuguese citizens in their aspiration for a more modern urban mobility in Portugal,” Uber said in a statement sent to Lusa News Agency.
“We see the proposal ... as a first step to Portugal’s having a modern and transparent regulatory framework, aligned with the interests of Portuguese citizens and drivers, and which contributes to more sustainable cities.”
The president of the Portuguese Federation of Taxis, Carlos Ramos, meanwhile accused the government of breaking its promises, and said that it and other associations would be meeting on Monday to pore over the legislation and agree a common position on it.
Ramos noted that the minister had said in parliament that “any operator that set up shop in Portugal” would have to meet “the rules and requirements that are made for taxis”, and queried why only 30 hours of training were to be required of drivers working with online apps, when taxi drivers must undergo a total of 125 hours.
Other provisions of the draft legislation include the requirement that drivers’ cars be identified with a sticker, cover is arranged with an insurance policy similar to those for taxis, electronic invoices are issued.
Uber and Cabify drivers will not be able to pick up rides on the street, only those that have called them via the app, and may not use taxi ranks or lanes reserved for public transport in urban areas.
The platforms will have to seek authorisation from the transport regulator to operate. They will not, however, enjoy the tax breaks that taxi drivers do.