Independent cab drivers are taking advantage of immigrants

There’s an approximately 30% rise in the taxi business; the reason for that is the declining number of independent drivers – many of them decided to carry immigrants instead of regular passengers, and it leaves a hole in the system which is filled by the big taxi corporations.

Drivers say that it pays more to pick up immigrants instead of regular passengers, so independent drivers left everything behind in Budapest to take advantage of the situation. In contrast, big corporations are trying to defend themselves by forbidding their drivers to take in immigrants.

“How should I ask for papers from a coloured man who’s getting into my cab in front of a fancy hotel?” asks a driver and says that they have no right to ask for papers from the passengers. But, according to the law, they are not allowed to have passengers who have no legal residence permit, Zoltán Metál, chairman of Hungary’s National Taxi Association (OTSz) told index.hu

Drivers of big corporations try to play by the law and they rather avoid immigrants, in order not to get into any trouble, but independent taxi drivers see a big opportunity in the whole situation.