Response to interpellation 2024/25:301 on a sustainable and fair 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 a sustainable and fair taxi industry. S considers the industry to be in crisis with widespread tax evasion, crime, and slave-like conditions for drivers 1 2 3. S argues that current measures are insufficient and demands a comprehensive review, a professional transport inspection, and that mobile apps be linked to taxi meters 4. KD considers it unacceptable that companies do not follow rules, which creates uneven competitive conditions 5. KD argues that steps have been taken to counter fraud through reinforced supervision and new legislation 5 6. KD emphasizes that healthy competition must be promoted, crime must be combated, and it must be ensured that poor working conditions are not a competitive advantage 7 8.
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! Kadir Kasirga has asked me what measures I intend to take to ensure that the taxi industry functions in a sustainable and fair way, with order and structure as the foundation, and how I view the need for a comprehensive review of the taxi industry, particularly with a focus on reducing lost tax revenues and strengthening the regulatory framework to ensure competition on equal terms.
Let me first state that I share Kadir Kasirga's view that it is unacceptable that certain companies do not follow the rules. It creates uneven competitive conditions compared to the companies that behave, and it affects the working conditions for drivers negatively.
Since the taxi market was deregulated in 1990, a number of regulatory changes have been implemented to reduce tax evasion and other fraud, as well as to create conditions for healthy competition within the industry. When it comes to tax audits, the regulations regarding reporting centers and the new obligation for platform operators to provide information on sales via digital platforms have given Skatteverket significantly improved opportunities to monitor taxi companies.
However, well-designed rules are not enough to address the problems within the taxi industry, and the controls of regulatory compliance are also important. The Government has taken measures to increase the number of police officers. Thanks to increased funds within the professional transport area, the Transport Agency has been able to expand its supervision of the taxi industry, which has, among other things, resulted in more issued warnings.
Previously, there were no possibilities to confiscate criminal proceeds from those convicted of illegal or unauthorized taxi traffic. With the new confiscation legislation, it is now possible to confiscate criminal proceeds in these crimes. Furthermore, a car used in illegal or unauthorized taxi traffic can be confiscated as an instrument, provided that a confiscation in the individual case does not appear obviously unreasonable.
Kadir Kasirga (S)
Mr. Speaker! I thank Minister Andreas Carlson for the answer to my interpellation.
The taxi industry in Sweden is in crisis. It plays a socially important role but has become an industry where people are exploited, tax evasion is widespread, and crime undermines the serious actors. It is unacceptable and requires immediate action.
Recently, the newspaper Expressen revealed the appalling reality for many drivers who drive for the app companies. We are talking about people caught in a hamster wheel of poverty, where 13-14 hours behind the wheel every day still does not provide a wage one can live on. It is slave-like conditions. And it is happening in Sweden in the year 2025.
Mr. Speaker! I am outraged when I think about how these app companies build their golden pyramids on the drivers' sweat and misery while the drivers can barely make ends meet for the rent. It is not just an injustice - it is a disgrace to let this continue.
These companies have the resources to provide their drivers with fair conditions. But instead, they make an active choice to press down wages and safety in order to increase their profits. It is completely unacceptable, and it is the government's responsibility to put a stop to it.
Mr. Speaker! We Social Democrats propose that the government immediately lets the Transport Agency lead a task force to handle the acute problems. This cannot wait any longer - it requires action here and now, because our professional drivers need order and decent conditions.
Mr. Speaker! The Minister says in his response to my interpellation that he agrees that what is happening in the taxi industry is not acceptable. But if the government now considers the situation to be as serious as we Social Democrats do, is the government then prepared to support our proposals for committee initiatives and other proposals we have to create order and clarity in the taxi industry?
Serkan Köse (S)
Mr. Speaker! I thank my colleague Kadir Kasirga for initiating this important debate.
Mr. Speaker! Since the decision to deregulate the taxi market in 1990, we have witnessed a development that has not only failed to deliver the promised improvements but has also created a market characterized by chaos, unhealthy competition, and a lack of order. It is not the serious companies or the drivers who win from this, but those who deliberately circumvent rules and exploit loopholes in the legislation.
Mr. Speaker! According to the Swedish Tax Agency, hundreds of millions of kronor are lost annually due to tax evasion in the taxi industry. These are funds that could have strengthened the welfare but are instead lost to unscrupulous criminal actors. It is unacceptable that drivers and companies that behave properly should see their operations threatened by those who play on a different playing field.
Mr. Speaker! We need to create order and clarity for those who work in the industry and ensure that taxpayers can feel secure that their money does not end up in the hands of criminals.
Mr. Speaker! The working conditions for taxi drivers have deteriorated drastically, especially for those who work for platform companies. These drivers often lack basic rights, such as pension benefits and health insurance. It is not just a question of competition – it is a question of dignity. We cannot accept, Mr. Speaker, that the gig economy becomes a gray zone where people are forced to work under conditions that we would otherwise not tolerate either in Sweden or in the rest of the labor market.
Mr. Speaker! The Minister pointed out in his response some measures that have been taken, such as the introduction of reporting centers and increased support to Transportstyrelsen. That is good. But, Mr. Speaker, it is obvious that these measures are not sufficient. It is not the first time we have discussed the problems in the taxi industry with the Minister. The same pattern recurs. Small steps are taken, but the fundamental problems in the industry remain.
Then the question is: Is the Minister really satisfied with this development? If not, why does the Minister not do much more to bring order and clarity to the taxi industry?
Mr. Speaker! Denmark has shown that it is possible to make a difference. There, they have introduced strict requirements for all actors, including platform companies, to follow the same rules as traditional taxi companies. For example, they have introduced a system which means that the taxi meter starts as soon as the passenger gets into the car, which ensures fair payment and increases safety for both drivers and customers. It is perhaps something for Minister Andreas Carlson to take to heart and act upon.
Mr. Speaker! Even important actors within the industry, such as Svenska Taxiförbundet and Taxi Stockholm, have been clear. They demand order and clarity. They demand equal conditions. They call for sharper rules and a real will from the government to tackle the problems.
Mr. Speaker! We Social Democrats demand a comprehensive review of the industry. We have done so for a long time. Powerful measures are needed to clean up the industry, combat unfair competition, and ensure fair working conditions for the drivers. It is not just about rules, Mr. Speaker, but about restoring trust in the entire industry and safeguarding fair conditions for both drivers and serious companies.
Therefore, I want to ask Minister Andreas Carlson: What concrete measures does the Minister intend to take to create order and clarity in the taxi industry and ensure fair working conditions for all drivers?
Statsrådet Andreas Carlson (KD)
Mr. Speaker! I would like to thank both Kadir Kasirga and Serkan Köse for their commitment. This has been witnessed during the years I have been Minister for Infrastructure. We have had exchanges on the issue previously.
Since we last debated, for example, the forfeiture legislation has been put in place. It now makes it possible to forfeit, i.e., seize, a car used in black taxi operations and in illegal or unauthorized taxi traffic. It is a very potent tool. It has been shown in other areas that one can go after the criminal economy. I foresee that the forfeiture legislation will become one of the tools that can be used in addition to the reinforcements being made at the police.
We are talking about rules. But as I said in my answer, Mr. Speaker, it is also very important with control and that compliance with rules is followed up. That is also why the Transport Agency has received more funds and has been able to expand its operations.
Mr. Speaker! The question was also whether I am satisfied with the development. No, I am not. Steps have been taken in a direction aimed at pushing away crime and cheating and at achieving better and healthier competition.
All employees in Sweden shall have good working conditions and a safe working environment regardless of the form of work. Changes in working life affect how we work. Good working conditions and a high level of protection in both the areas of working environment and working time shall apply to all employees. Poor working conditions and an unsafe working environment must never become a competitive advantage in Sweden.
When it comes to the platform companies, which the members refer to, the government has appointed an inquiry that shall examine how the platform directive is to be implemented in Swedish law.
The Platform Directive contains provisions regarding how correct employment status shall be determined for persons performing platform work. It is primarily about being able to determine whether a person performing platform work is an employee. When it concerns platform workers, there is also an employer. These are issues concerning social security and tax law and criminal law issues. The investigation working on this will report its assignment by December 31 this year at the latest.
I also want to say that we, of course, are also looking at international comparisons and comparisons between the Nordic neighboring countries. I was recently in Norway and looked at how they have organized the taxi service to the airport at Gardermoen. There, they actually have not needed any new legislation. According to what was described to me, and what I saw on-site, the individual taxi customer has received a clearer and more transparent picture of what the price information will be, so that one avoids a situation that we have also had examples of in Sweden, where tourists do not know in advance what the journey will cost. It is something to learn from.
I will gladly look more into the Danish example that Serkan Köse raised here in the interpellation debate. I have not delved into that legislation or that regulatory framework. I cannot comment more than to say that it is obviously very interesting to have that discussion together with our Nordic neighboring countries and the Nordic transport minister colleagues, with whom I have a very good cooperation.
There were some answers to the questions that have been asked. I believe we are very much in agreement that we need to do more here to achieve a better functioning taxi market in Sweden.
Kadir Kasirga (S)
Mr. Speaker! Thank you to the Minister for the answers and the comments.
What is actually needed in the taxi industry is a larger grip on the taxi industry. I do not think it is enough to just patch and repair. We must create a long-term sustainable industry, where decent conditions and fair competition are matters of course.
In Sweden, we have a model where cooperation between the parties in the labor market secures fair conditions for the employee. Collective agreements guarantee, among other things, occupational pensions and security in the event of illness. But this model is being undermined in the taxi industry. Many drivers, especially those who drive for the app companies or the platform companies, stand completely without these basic rights. It is unacceptable.
We Social Democrats have presented several reforms that can restore order and clarity in the industry. We demand that a professional transport inspection be established that focuses on supervision within taxi, bus transport, and the bus industry. We want mobile apps to be linked to taximeters and reporting centers to ensure correct reporting of payments and to introduce requirements for GPS and seat sensors in taxis, as my parliamentary colleague Serkan Köse mentioned, to counter fraud and ensure fair conditions.
Mr. Speaker! Many of the proposals we have presented have already been implemented in Denmark. It shows that it works very well. In Denmark, for example, it is required that taxis have GPS and that mobile apps are connected to taximeters, which has reduced cheating and improved the conditions for the drivers.
Why should we in Sweden accept a lower standard? I also hear from Andreas Carlson that he agrees with me. I want to repeat my question once again. Will Andreas Carlson support the proposals that we have now put forward? This concerns, for example, a proper review of the taxi industry and the reforms that I just mentioned.
Mr. Speaker! It is time for Sweden to re-establish justice, fair conditions, and security in the taxi industry here at home. That is what the taxi drivers and the serious part of the industry demand and expect from us.
Serkan Köse (S)
Mr. Speaker! Thank you, Minister, for the answer. I welcome that the Minister wants to look at the Danish example. It is interesting to hear.
Mr. Speaker! When I myself drove a taxi in the late 90s alongside my university studies, as very many have done, I saw an industry that offered opportunities but also hard work. Back then, there was a sense of order and respect for the drivers' work.
Mr. Speaker! Today I see an industry where insecurity, unhealthy competition, and exploitation have become commonplace. It is not an industry characterized by fairness or security. It is an industry where many drivers are forced to accept working conditions that should belong to history. The platform companies have created new opportunities but also new problems. Drivers who deliver our food or drive our cars work under conditions that few of us in here would accept.
Mr. Speaker! It is about what kind of labor market we want in Sweden. The taxi industry is a part of Swedish society and our backbone. It offers jobs, integration, and service. But it requires order and structure. There, I believe we agree with the Minister.
We cannot accept that the state loses tax revenue, that serious companies are competed out, that drivers are exploited, and that crime is allowed to spread. Now we Social Democrats, as my colleague Kadir Kasirga has explained, have presented a number of concrete measures to address the problems that I believe exist in this dysfunctional industry.
Mr. Speaker! I look forward to a continued dialogue with the Minister regarding these issues and how we shall ensure that we have a well-functioning taxi industry in Sweden with fair conditions for all taxi drivers. Thank you for the debate, Minister.
Statsrådet Andreas Carlson (KD)
Mr. Speaker! I want to bring in the discussion, which I think is very constructive and important.
I emphasize exactly what the members are getting at: The taxi business in Sweden has a very important role to play for all of Sweden to function. It is important for many different types of transport and an important part of our entire transport system. Therefore, it is important to also promote healthy competition and ensure that we combat the type of cheating and crime that we are discussing in this debate. It is, of course, about rules and, as I have also said, about compliance with rules. One must have sufficient resources to control and exercise supervision of the business, and we have strengthened both the police's and the Transport Agency's capabilities to do just that.
I want to add that the Delegation against crime in the workplace is in the final phase of its work. By the end of February this year at the latest, it is to propose effective measures to counter crime in the workplace. It will, of course, be very important to take note of what the delegation will come up with. This applies in particular to the issue of crime in the workplace within the transport industry, where the delegation will submit proposals.
I want to say this because we have discussed taking lessons from the other Nordic countries. I welcome that, and as I have said, I have visited Oslo. I believe we can benefit from studying how other countries work in this area, but there is a point in that we have given the delegation the assignment to specifically examine the Swedish transport industry.
In this, of course, lies an opportunity for the delegation to gather impressions of what works in our surrounding world, but the purpose of the assignment – which I look forward to taking part in in just a few weeks, Mr. Speaker – is to find the sharpest measures that work specifically in Sweden. Some of these proposals may possibly overlap with what works in Denmark or what the members here refer to as what their own party has proposed. I have no prestige in this, but I will await the very serious and substantial work that the Delegation against labor market crime has performed.
After that, I will see what proposals the delegation submits specifically regarding organized crime in the transport industry, and I have no reason to believe anything other than that there will be concrete proposals to work further with there.
I welcome the dialogue ahead that Serkan Köse mentions. I believe we have great reason to look at the issue as broadly as possible and to produce measures step by step at as high a speed as possible. Here, as said, the forfeiture legislation is a new tool that I hope will lead to even more power in the supervision that needs to take place to curb unhealthy competition and achieve a better functioning market.
Kadir Kasirga (S)
Mr. Speaker! Thank you to the Minister for the recent comments!
I welcome the positive attitude that the government shows even towards our proposals for measures. Those who drive out there are people - people who drive for 13-14 hours but who still cannot put together a monthly salary that is enough to support themselves or pay the rent.
It is important that we from the political side, we who are responsible politicians, act. And in this case, it is the government that is most responsible.
It is also positive that the government is starting to look at our neighboring countries, for example Denmark, to see how they have addressed the challenges that exist. I am pleased that there is a common spirit and that we together emphasize that it is important that we address the challenges that exist.
We will, of course, continue to follow up on the issue, as it affects very many people. In Sweden, slave-like employment conditions must not occur, as it is not worthy of a country like ours.
Both I and my Social Democratic parliamentary colleagues will follow the issue, as it is so important. I truly hope that the government and its coalition partners support our committee's initiative when it comes to a proper review of the taxi industry.
Statsrådet Andreas Carlson (KD)
Mr. Speaker! I trust that you will follow the question closely, Kadir Kasirga, and I thank you for that.
I cannot comment on any specific committee initiative. Much work is ongoing, and the government will, as stated, await the Delegation against labor crime's proposal. I hope that they will be of such a nature that we can continue to work with them. We would gladly do so in good and close dialogue.
It is clear that poor working conditions should not be a competitive advantage in Sweden and that we need to ensure that we curb the cheating and the crime that exists. Here we need to take steps, and we have already taken quite a few steps. I believe I hear that there is a consensus that we will need to do more to use the tools that exist, follow up on the rules that exist and provide the resources needed so that we can achieve a taxi market that can be trusted and that holds out against the crime that I believe we all want to combat.
Thank you very much for the discussion! I look forward to continued dialogue.
Source: The Swedish Parliament. The speeches come from the open data of the Riksdag, translated into English by AI, which may contain errors.