Danish taxi drivers protest against Uber

Copenhagen: Around 200 taxi drivers in the Danish capital gathered on Wednesday outside the parliament building to protest against the US transportation service Uber.

The taxi drivers, representing the Taxi Drivers in Denmark organisation, lined up in front of the Christiansborg Palace and demanded political action to stop what they described as “illegal and anti-competitive business” from Uber drivers.

The protest proceeded peacefully and ended shortly before noon, Xinhua reported.

“In 10 months, we have witnessed how Uber has worked at the Danish taxi market without the permits and approvals required by law in the field,” Danish news agency Ritzau quoted Bo Weye Hansen, a taxi driver, as saying.

“It is clearly illegal and the action is needed now,” Hansen said, adding that there was doubt about if Uber drivers paid tax.

“We are not against competition but Uber undermines the whole taxi industry with wage dumping and illegal methods,” he said.

The Danish transport authority filed a police complaint against Uber in November last year, and the case has yet to go to court.

–IANS