HIBAPRESS – Abdellatif Baraka
The prefectures of Casablanca have been witnessing great tension in recent days among the drivers of small taxis, after the local authorities imposed new conditions for renewing the "trust license," the most important of which is the necessity of matching the residential address with the territorial area that grants the license.
– Shock for drivers in front of a new condition
Dozens of drivers were surprised when submitting renewal files with rejection, on the grounds that their current residential addresses do not match the previously registered addresses. This condition, which was not enforced before with this strictness, put them in a difficult position, especially those who changed their place of residence for social or professional reasons.
A number of drivers confirmed that the decision came as a surprise and without prior warning, which threatens their source of livelihood that they have relied on for years, and exposes them to great financial difficulties.
– Social and professional repercussions
Professionals believe that the requirement of the residential address in this way represents an insurmountable obstacle that has nothing to do with the driver's competence or the level of his services, and may lead to the exacerbation of chaos within the sector. They also consider that this measure opens the door to the expansion of transportation via smart applications, which benefit from any defect in the traditional system to strengthen their presence in the market.
The professionals added that this decision puts the traditional taxi sector in front of additional challenges, in light of fierce competition and the decline in drivers' income as a result of rising operating costs.
– Demands for intervention
The drivers demand that the Ministry of Interior and the Wilaya of the Casablanca-Settat region reconsider this condition, and open a dialogue with the representatives of the professionals to find practical solutions that ensure the renewal of licenses without unjustified restrictions, while preserving the stability of the sector and ensuring the continuity of work for hundreds of families that depend on it.
Professionals emphasize that addressing this file requires a balance between the legal organization of the sector and the social reality of the drivers, to ensure that the crisis does not worsen and create new opportunities for chaos and losses.
