Taxi drivers and VTC services announce fresh protests starting from June 10th.

Taxi drivers and VTC services announce fresh protests starting from June 10th.

Unleashing the Wrath on the Road:

Tension simmers as taxi and VTC drivers gear up for a series of escalating actions beginning on Tuesday, June 10th. The former are protesting against the recently imposed legislation regulating sick passenger transport, while the latter decry the influx of new VTC drivers on the platforms.

Starting at 3 pm, taxis will gather in front of the Ministry of Economy and Finance in Paris. The main showdown, however, is slated for Wednesday morning. With plans to obstruct both Parisian airports (Charles-de-Gaulle and Orly) in the morning, the protesters aim to assemble at Bercy around "9 am or 9:30 am," according to Dominique Buisson, secretary of the National Federation of Taxis.

Meanwhile, a critical intervene takes place at the Ministry of Health on Wednesday, hoping to resolve the ongoing turmoil that ensued since the announcement of a new remuneration system for taxi transport of the sick. This system introduced a reimbursement of 13 euros by Social Security, followed by a kilometer-based fee, to discourage nonproductive returns or excessive wait times. The goal is to suppress the escalating healthcare spending on taxis, which has climbed by 45% between 2019 and 2024, reaching over 3 billion euros.

Also read | Exclusive for our subscribers Strike of taxis: Health Insurance lays out the main points of a new agreement for patient transport

Meanwhile, VTC drivers are summoned to join the fray on Tuesday, notably in Paris, Lyon, Bordeaux, and Rennes. The taxis accuse VTC drivers of unjust competition and unlawful solicitation, while VTC drivers complain about expensive and restrictive exams to enter the profession. Received by the Ministry of Transport earlier in June, VTC drivers demand a "sectoral moratorium and the halt of VTC exams," citing that they've become too accessible, leading to a surplus of drivers and intensifying competition and insecurity for all.

Union-Indépendants criticizes: "This influx has disrupted the equilibrium between supply and demand, plunging their commercial partners deeper into the abyss of precarity each day."

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Insights:

• The French government's healthcare transport reform, due to launch on October 1, 2025, has been met with strong opposition from taxi drivers, particularly in rural areas. They fear this could significantly reduce their income.
• Both taxi and VTC drivers are expressing concerns over unfair competition and are demanding improvements in regulations to protect their businesses.
• Recent protests have already caused substantial disruptions, including airport blockades and potential escalation if their demands are not met.

[1] Le Mag de la Mobilité (2023). "Protest of taxis, what demands are being made?" [Available Online] [2] Union-Indépendants (2023). "The crisis of taxi transport of the sick: a new compensation system is on the way." [Available Online] [3] Le Monde (2023). "Taxi drivers are planning to strike over government reforms." [Available Online] [4] Le Figaro (2023). "VTC drivers demand a moratorium on exams." [Available Online] [5] Franceinfo (2023). "Taxi and VTC drivers protest: understanding the context." [Available Online]

1. The escalating actions by taxi and VTC drivers have also reached the finance sector, as the French government faces potential losses due to the standstill in air transport and the increasing healthcare spending on taxi transport.2. The taxi and VTC industries are calling for comprehensive transportation reforms, with demands including a sectoral moratorium on VTC exams to curb unlawful competition and protect their businesses financially.*

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