Level playing field required for private hire vehicle operators

The private hire vehicle sector has changed beyond recognition since the publication of Transport for London’s (TfL) Taxi and Private Hire Action Plan in 2016.

The recent employment tribunal ruling in favour of classing 15,000 Bolt drivers as workers rather than self-employed contractors highlights the challenges around employment status and the need for greater regulation in this area.

The London Assembly has today called on the Mayor to ensure operators abide by emerging employment law and consult on the best ways to ensure a level playing field in London as a condition of licensing private hire operators.

Elly Baker AM, who proposed the motion, said:

"Private hire drivers play a vital role in keeping London moving, stepping in where journeys can't be made easily by other means.

“As the sector evolves, so too must its regulation. The recent tribunal ruling on Bolt drivers underscores the urgent need for fairer employment practices, while the lack of journey data sharing hampers Transport for London’s ability to plan effectively for our city.

“We urge the Mayor and TfL to act decisively to ensure operators meet their obligations under emerging employment laws and mandate data sharing to build a fairer, more transparent, and efficient transport system for all Londoners."

The full text of the motion is:

The private hire vehicle sector is essential for providing a transport service for journeys that can’t be made easily by other means. The Assembly would like to thank the many thousands of Private Hire Vehicle drivers who help people get around our city.

The sector has changed beyond recognition since the publication of Transport for London’s (TfL) Taxi and Private Hire Action Plan in 2016. A revised version must take into account these changes and what a more effective regulation looks like with large platform operators.

The Assembly notes the recent employment tribunal ruling in favour of classing 15,000 Bolt drivers as workers rather than self-employed contractors. This case highlights the challenges around employment status and the need for greater regulation in this area.

London has fallen behind other world cities, such as New York and Chicago, by not making sharing of journey data a mandatory licensing requirement. This restricts the ability of TfL to effectively plan our transport network.

The London Assembly calls on the Mayor to:

• Instruct TfL to use current powers to ensure operators abide by emerging employment law and consult on the best ways to ensure a level playing field in London as a condition of licensing private hire operators.
• Write to private hire operators requesting that they share passenger journey data with TfL to better support TfL’s role as London’s strategic transport authority.
• Write to Government to ask them to update Taxi & Private Hire legislation, including new requirements on Operators to provide journey data to TfL.

The meeting can be viewed via webcast or YouTube.

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