The Portuguese Association of Car Transporters for the Disabled wrote an open letter to Uber Portugal, expressing “indignation and repudiation” at the unilateral reduction of more than 10% in the remuneration of TVDE drivers, but the platform justifies it with an increase of the income.
In an open letter sent to the general director of Uber Portugal, to which Lusa had access, the president of the Portuguese Association of Transporters of Missing Cars (APTAD) expresses “his indignation and repudiation of the unilateral decision” reduce the rate from 9 cents to 8 cents/minute“.
According to Ivo Miguel Fernandes, this “rIt represents a reduction of more than 10% in the already limited remuneration of TVDE drivers [transporte individual de passageiros em veículos descaracterizados a partir de plataforma eletrónica]”.
“The recurring practice of unilaterally reducing rates, without prior consultation with its partners, who are, after all, those who guarantee the provision of the service, is unacceptable,” he considered, adding that “the employment situation of the drivers requires consultation.” and, never, unilateral actions regarding their remuneration.”
For the leader of the association, “the specificity and typology associated with the provision of services on this platform requires greater sensitivity” on the part of the operator or “more strict regulation by the regulator.”
“This new reduction is especially worrying in a context of excessive working hoursunworthy salaries and an excess of vehicles in operation, which put the sustainability of the entire TVDE sector at risk,” he highlighted.
The APTAD appeared on October 3 at the parliamentary committee on Economy, Public Works and Housing, where it presented its report on the TVDE sector, highlighting “the structural problems” that affect the activity, “among them the very poor remuneration of drivers, the excessive number of vehicles and long working hours”, without “any compensation from the electronic platforms”.
For this reason, the association requested an urgent tripartite meeting with the authorities and electronic platforms, for “a concrete analysis of the sector” and to find “mitigating measures that can protect drivers and operators until the legislation is reviewed.”
APTAD is available for dialogue, hoping that “Uber will review its position, be more open to dialogue and commit to respecting the rights of drivers, who are the backbone” of the sector.
In a statement, the association highlighted that this reduction “further worsens the financial conditions of driversAnd it occurs at a time when “they are working with proposals and meeting with various entities to fight for a substantial increase in this component of the rate,” which in their report proposes increasing to “24 cents/minute in 2024.”
Questioned by Lusa, an official Uber source responded that “it did not reduce its rates per minute and per kilometer indiscriminately,” but rather made “an adjustment only in the rates per minute and only at some specific times of the day, always with the objective of Maximize driver income.
“In the second quarter of 2024, the Invoicing of operators and drivers through Uber worldwide increased by 27% compared to the same period in 2023. In Portugal this increase was greater,” he added.
According to the same source, the The growth was due to the increase in consumers on the platform. (22% more in the 1st half of 2024 compared to the same period last year), trips and the value of each trip.
“A relevant clarification is that increasing prices is not synonymous with increasing income, and the permanent balance between supply and demand and the growth of demand, which is currently above the growth of supply, is critical,” Uber said.
The platform highlighted that all information about current rates and with each travel request “It is always presented transparently to drivers so they can accept or reject each trip.”always “without any penalty.”
The source clarified that he “constantly listens to drivers and fleet partners” to improve their experience and that he has already met with APTAD and is available “to do it again”, as well as with “any other association that requests it.”
Source: Observadora
