(cont. from § 7) Response to interpellation 2022/23:416 on a safer taxi industry
Translated from Swedish by AI; the translation may contain errors. The Swedish text is the original.
Summary AI, written in advance
The debate concerns creating a safer taxi industry and addressing deficiencies in the industry. KD argues that criminal activity and cheating are unacceptable and that authorities such as Transportstyrelsen, Polismyndigheten, and Åklagarmyndigheten must cooperate to revoke licenses from unsuitable drivers 1 2 3. KD emphasizes that the market opening in 1990 has benefited customers and that the government is investing in the justice system to combat crime in the workplace 2 3. S considers that the deregulation has brought challenges and demands a comprehensive review of the entire industry 4. S emphasizes the importance of fair conditions, collective agreements, and a social safety net to protect vulnerable people in the labor market 4 5.
Written by AI in advance and may contain errors. The numbers lead to the speech a statement builds on; check against the text below.
Statsrådet Andreas Carlson (KD)
Mr. Speaker! We now resume this debate. Before the break for the question period, Kadir Kasirga and Serkan Köse asked a number of questions to me following the answer I had already given.
Let me first say that I appreciate the commitment. I believe it was Kadir Kasirga who said that the deviations and deficiencies that have arisen are completely unacceptable. I share that view. I want to emphasize that all taxi operations shall be conducted in accordance with applicable regulations. It is serious that criminal activity occurs. Crime, fraud, and abuse must be combated with accurate and effective sanctions.
It was mentioned that a signal to the authorities was needed, for example, changes in regulatory letters. Let me, however, be clear towards the members, those who are listening, and the authorities: The Taxi Traffic Act is clear that the Transport Agency shall revoke a taxi driver's license if the holder, through a criminal act or due to other circumstances, has proven unsuitable to serve as a driver in taxi traffic.
That is why, in my response, I state that I assume that the authorities, the Transport Agency but of course also the Prosecution Authority and the Police Authority, ensure that they cooperate to combat this. It is already included in the laws, in regulations and in the authorities' tasks. We follow this very closely. It will get better.
It is extremely important to ensure that unsuitable drivers have their licenses revoked as soon as possible. Those who have committed crimes must not be able to continue driving taxis. The public must be able to feel safe when traveling by taxi.
In recent years, the Transport Agency has developed its methods for revoking licenses for professional drivers who have been convicted of crimes. This includes taxi drivers. According to the statistics I have received from the Transport Agency, the authority revokes the licenses, including the taxi driver's license, in most cases within 30 days from the time they have become legally binding. It is a clear improvement compared to previous years. I welcome it but simultaneously assume that the Transport Agency continuously reviews its working methods to shorten processing times even further.
I view the reports in the media very seriously that the processing of the cases has not always functioned as intended. I am, of course, following this very closely. Everyone should be able to feel safe when traveling by taxi, which is what it is about here.
Kadir Kasirga (S)
Mr. Speaker! Thank you for the answer, Minister for Infrastructure! I am pleased that the Minister emphasizes that the irregularities that have been discovered are not acceptable.
Mr. Speaker! Digitization and the emergence of the app companies have added much in a positive way from a consumer perspective. Today, for example, one can book a taxi through a few taps in an application and get a cheap taxi ride. It can feel good with a cheap taxi ride. But there is also a downside to this. Behind the cheap taxi ride, there is often a driver who drives for at least 12-16 hours every day in order to be able to receive a wage that covers the expenses.
I have met many representatives for the industry - Svenska Taxiförbundet, Taxi Stockholm, Taxiunionen and Svenska Transportarbetareförbundet. Common to these actors is that they want fair conditions, secure employment and collective agreements that provide the right to occupational pension, sick pay and holiday pay.
The app companies and the gig economy are here to stay. Therefore, it becomes even more important that we, from the political side, continue to work to ensure that they operate under orderly conditions, with respect for people's dignity and with a sense of responsibility for society, and so that the drivers receive the right wages, the right to vacation and sick pay, simply a secure employment.
The Minister notes himself in his response that certain taxi companies do not follow the rules and that this creates uneven competitive conditions compared to companies that behave correctly. I am pleased that we agree with each other.
Mr. Speaker! Minister Andreas Carlson, however, stops at mere words. Unfortunately, it has become a signature melody. He chooses not to take action. In my interpellation, I also address this matter of conducting a review. It is important that we in politics act when the irregularities, challenges, and problems highlighted by the taxi industry have been uncovered.
The deregulation of the taxi industry has brought about great challenges. Given the recurring problems, the Social Democrats believe that a review of the entire taxi industry is needed. We must create conditions to ensure that the drivers have basic and good working conditions and a social safety net.
My question to Minister Andreas Carlson is: What does the government intend to do to ensure that there are fair competitive conditions and that all taxi companies follow the rules, as the Minister has also pointed out in his answer?
Serkan Köse (S)
Mr. Speaker! Thank you for the answer, Minister!
I want to emphasize that the taxi industry today faces many and complex challenges. The Minister has himself touched upon this, and my colleague Kadir Kasirga has accounted well for it. These challenges range from lack of profitability to substandard working conditions and growing fragmentation of the labor market.
Technological progress is good. The gig economy can, as has been said, be good. But the growth within the taxi industry has given rise to new actors, including the digital platforms we are talking about. These actors have in many cases bypassed applicable labor law regulations, which has worsened the already insecure working conditions in the industry.
I believe, like my colleague Kadir Kasirga, that it is high time to address these complex challenges by conducting a comprehensive review. It is necessary, Minister. Such an analysis needs to take a holistic approach to the industry rather than solely focusing on isolated aspects of situations within the industry.
I also want to emphasize that the taxi industry is a part of Swedish society. It is our duty to ensure that it is both orderly and well-regulated. A safe, efficient and profitable taxi industry is not just possible to achieve. It is an absolute necessity.
I would therefore like to ask the Minister two questions. Given the negative consequences we see today as a result of the deregulation of the taxi industry in the 90s, I wonder if the Minister intends to take any measures to create order and clarity in the taxi industry.
Last but not least, I wonder, given the taxi industry's central role regarding integration into society, what measures the government intends to take to ensure that technological development and the gig economy do not worsen the conditions and to ensure that those who are most vulnerable on the labor market are protected.
Statsrådet Andreas Carlson (KD)
Mr. Speaker! I note that we agree on what I said in my opening response. That certain taxi companies do not follow the rules is unacceptable. It risks creating uneven competitive conditions compared to the companies that behave. It also affects the situation negatively for drivers, which the members are raising, and also for customers.
The opening of the taxi market in 1990 has nevertheless benefited taxi customers, primarily by reducing passengers' waiting times to get a taxi. Both members point to certain positive effects of an open taxi market. But it also turned out that complementary measures were required to address the problems. A great deal has been done since the 90s. A number of regulatory changes were implemented to reduce tax evasion, other fraud, and overpricing that have existed in the industry. I therefore think that we should not forget all the positive effects that the market opening has had for taxi customers and the measures that have been taken.
There may be a need to review certain regulations that govern taxi traffic. There are proposals in, for example, the report *Kontroller på väg* where it was suggested that a review of the national rest time regulation should be carried out. There are a number of other such proposals that I, of course, am not opposed to looking into further in advance.
But the most important thing is that we have well-developed rules and that there is good oversight that they are complied with. Compliance with the rules is extremely urgent and important. There, I want to remind that the government will return on Wednesday next week with the entire budget. But already now, historically large investments in the justice system, in the police, in prosecutors and in the courts, with crime victims in focus, have been announced. It is a basic prerequisite for the police and prosecutors to be able to cooperate with the Transport Agency to remove the deficiencies that have been identified.
I reported here that the times have been shortened, based on the statistics that now exist. But I am not satisfied.
In Sweden, it must be a self-evident fact that everyone - women and girls, men and boys - can get home safely in the evening without feeling anxiety or, even worse, being exposed to danger. The Government is now ensuring that the Transport Agency, in cooperation with other authorities, acts and does what is required to ensure that safety. Unsuitable drivers must have their licenses revoked as soon as possible, and those who commit crimes must not be able to continue driving taxis.
Kadir Kasirga (S)
Mr. Speaker! Thank you for the answer, Minister Andreas Carlson!
Let me again emphasize the importance of fair conditions for the public good. By choosing taxi companies that have fair conditions and collective agreements, you contribute to promoting a fair and sustainable labor market. It does not only benefit the drivers but also has positive effects for society as a whole. A well-functioning taxi industry with secure employment can also contribute to economic stability and reduced inequality.
By choosing a taxi company with fair conditions, you can be confident in the knowledge that you are supporting an industry where the drivers' well-being and safety are prioritized. It is a way to show that you value the Swedish model with a fair and sustainable labor market.
I really hope we can agree that secure employment with fair conditions is important for all actors - both those operating within platform jobs and gig jobs and the traditional, established taxi companies. A clear and distinct signal was needed from the government's side.
It has now been discovered several times that there are deficiencies and that irregularities occur, and therefore action is needed in this matter. Unfortunately, it is not enough to just deliver words, Minister for Higher Education and Research Andreas Carlson.
As my parliamentary colleague Serkan Köse pointed out, a review was needed to bring order and clarity to the industry. I am sure that such an initiative would also be welcomed by the actors.
Statsrådet Andreas Carlson (KD)
Mr. Speaker! Thank you, Serkan Köse and Kadir Kasirga for the dialogue in this debate!
Let me repeat that it is extremely important to ensure that unsuitable drivers have their licenses revoked as soon as possible. Those who have committed crimes must not be able to continue driving taxis. Everyone must be able to feel safe when traveling by taxi.
Several authorities have a responsibility when it comes to the control and supervision of taxi activities. The authorities' mandates are somewhat different, but to address the fraud, it is required that they cooperate. I have previously mentioned Transportstyrelsen, Polismyndigheten, and Åklagarmyndigheten.
Let me also remind you that the Tidö Agreement represents a paradigm shift in the view of how organized, system-threatening crime should be combated. Crime, fraud, and abuse must be combated with accurate and effective sanctions. Extensive reform work is underway in several different departments to realize the intentions of the Tidö Agreement linked to crime in the labor market.
The Government takes the crime in the labor market and the exploitation of people in the labor market seriously. The often cross-border crime in the labor market creates great insecurity, distorts competition, and is a significant source of income for organized economic crime. We cannot turn a blind eye to it either in the respect that we are discussing today.
The Government is monitoring this closely. The authorities already have ongoing work, and it is included in their instructions given that it is clear in legislation and regulation. I look forward to continued good dialogue with the members of the Riksdag regarding what we have agreed upon. These are unacceptable deficiencies that must be addressed so that everyone can feel safe when they take a taxi.
Source: The Swedish Parliament. The speeches come from the open data of the Riksdag, translated into English by AI, which may contain errors.