In the letter, the ministry notes that Uber’s method of operation “has raised various questions, namely relating to its regulatory and fiscal framework, which need to be clarified.”
It asks whether the company is observing rulings by a Lisbon court that, in April, issued an injunction ordering Uber to suspend its operations in Portugal. That decision was confirmed in June.
Among other issues, the ministry asks what the company’s business objective is in Portugal, whether it has authorisation or licence to transport passengers and, if so, of what kind, what rules its drivers are subject to, what kind of contract it is engaged in with passengers and whether users are covered by any insurance in case of accident.
Lusa has contacted Uber, which said it would comment later.
Groups representing taxis in Portugal have accused Uber of continuing to operate in the same way as before the court decision, and argue that it represents illegal competition to them, does not pay taxes and “functions in an opaque way.”
On 8 September, thousands of taxi drivers demonstrated against Uber in Lisbon, Oporto and Faro, calling on the government to act to resolve the problem.