The law prioritizing taxis over VTCs reaches Parliament

BarcelonaThe law prioritizing taxis over chauffeur-driven vehicles (VTC) begins its process in Parliament. The PSC (Spanish Socialist Workers' Party), Junts (Juntos), ERC (Electrical Workers' Party), Comuns (Comuns), and the CUP (Cup) registered the bill this Thursday with the intention of it coming into force next year. The text's objective is to regulate the sector and establish functions for each type of service: taxis, VTCs (Vehicles with Chauffeurs), limousines, and high-disposal vehicles (HDVs), a new type similar to VTCs.

Representatives José Ignacio Aparicio (PSC), Salvador Vergés (Juntos), Jordi Albert y Caballero (ERC), Lluís Mijoler (Comuns), and Laure Vega (CUP) explained the essential points of the proposal, representing the parties that support it. The bill gives much greater weight to taxis, which it considers a structural service to complement public transport, with an official fare system set by the competent authorities and an obligation not to refuse service except for justified reasons.

On the contrary, the new regulations will lead to the gradual disappearance of VTCs, as expiring licenses will not be renewed. Temporary permits will only be granted if taxi drivers cannot meet user demand.

Elite Taxi Satisfaction

Elite Taxi spokesperson Tito Álvarez also participated in the presentation. He welcomed the adoption of a "world-first" law, achieved thanks to the constant mobilizations of taxi drivers and dialogue with parliamentary groups. He asserted that they do not want anyone to be left without work and advocated for VTC drivers to become taxi drivers under the same regulations, in a sector he defined as "dignified," safe, and one that respects working conditions.

For its part, the sector's majority employers' association, Unauto VTC, described the draft legislation as "deeply antisocial" and "unfair." Thus, it emphasized that, if it were to come into force as planned, it would "expel" the practice from the sector in the urban area of Barcelona.

Despite the consensus reached among these five political forces, one of the measures that generates disagreement among the parliamentary groups is that the text plans to require a B1 level of Catalan for new drivers. Junts and ERC will try to introduce this modification through amendments, raising it to level B2.