Bangkok: Chaichanok received a letter from a group of drivers for hire via an app, urging the government to adjust the registration conditions and procedures to allow low-income earners to pursue additional careers.
According to Thai News Agency, representatives of the group of taxi drivers, led by Mr. Jirapat Sopalai, submitted a letter to Mr. Anutin Charnvirakul, Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior, proposing solutions to address the impact of the ministerial regulation on electronic taxi registration. Mr. Chaichanok Chidchob, Minister of Digital Economy and Society (DE), acted as the representative to receive the request.
A representative of taxi drivers stated that the Ministry of Transport’s regulations may face complex and inflexible registration requirements and procedures, impacting app-based taxi drivers, particularly those who work as a side hustle or have low incomes. This impacts their ability to register, as registration does not allow for personal vehicles, resulting in high costs for collecting leases and insurance. Therefore, they urge the government to alleviate these issues by streamlining the document submission process online, allowing for the use of a copy of the vehicle registration book for those with financing, and allowing rental cars to be used via the app.
Mr. Chaichanok Chidchob received the documents and said he would discuss the matter with relevant parties.