After years of waiting, it is now possible to bring foreign citizens from non-EU countries to taxi in Romania. Although representatives of professional drivers have asked for this measure, they cite various problems. Among them is customer safety.
The state has decided to bring foreigners to Romania to work as taxi drivers
The Uber/Bolt system that allows foreign citizens to be taxi drivers has been introduced in Romania. This had been insisted on for about five years. The reason given was the lack of professional drivers and the pressure on the transportation industry. Difficulties existed in the market even after the emergence of alternative transportation companies like Uber/Bolt.
It was therefore recommended bringing in foreign nationals from less developed countries where English is spoken communicatively. These include the Philippines, Sri Lanka and Nepal. Thousands of foreigners have already been brought into the country to drive trucks.
"We welcome this decision and are of the opinion that only by importing foreign labor can the acute labor shortage we are facing in Romania be solved. Just to put this into context, the agency Work From Asia is bringing in around 3000 truck drivers from the Philippines this year to fill the existing shortage", Yosef Gavriel Peisakh, General Manager of WORK FROM ASIA, one of the leading foreign recruitment and placement agencies in Romania, told WORK FROM ASIA. FANATIK.
Finally, the system has been adopted and the necessary changes have been decided to allow this. But it will all happen only in Bucharest for now. We are talking about the methods by which foreign citizens can obtain the necessary license and attestation for taxi driving.
What taxi drivers are unhappy about
However, taxi driver representatives believe that although the number of taxi drivers will increase, the level of danger to which customers will be exposed will also increase. This is because lack of knowledge of streets, landmarks and routes can cause harm. Foreign drivers are unfamiliar with the city, so the transportation process can be hampered. In serious cases, accidents can happen.
"Any legislative amendment regarding the taxi activity must ensure compliance with the existing legal framework, the maintenance of safety and quality service standards, as well as the protection of the rights and interests of licensed drivers in Romania. In our view, this decision has a negative impact on customers who choose to use the taxi service. The increased risk of accidents, as well as the unfamiliarity of foreign drivers with the streets, addresses and points of interest in the city. This can lead to a drop in the quality of service and unpleasant situations for passengers. Safety has to be a priority, and traffic experience and familiarity with the city are essential for a professional taxi driver"explains Cristian Coman, president of the Taxi Drivers Association Bucharest - Ilfov.
Lack of driving licenses a major problem
Another point raised in the The Romanian law on bringing foreigners to Romania for taxi-driving refers to the fact that they have not held Romanian driving licenses for at least two years, as required by national law to transport people. The same rule should apply to citizens brought from non-EU countries. More specifically, they would have to take the test to obtain a Romanian driving license, hold it for at least two years, and then take the attestation exam to become professional drivers.
"Currently, in order to be a taxi driver, a driver must have at least two years driving experience. We believe the same principle should apply to foreign nationals. In other words, they should only be able to obtain a taxi attestation after holding a Romanian driving license for at least two years. This criterion would ensure a minimum level of training and adaptation to road legislation and to the specifics of Romanian traffic"says the taxi drivers' representative from Bucharest - Ilfov, for FANATIK.
Conditions for getting a driving license
This issue was also raised by Yosef Gavriel Peisakh, who argues that only a few countries allow you to exchange your driving license issued in your home country for a European one. Nepal, Sri Lanka and Vietnam are not on the list, but the Philippines is.
"According to the Vienna Convention, there is a list of countries whose citizens have the right to exchange their driving licenses issued in their home country for a European driving license without having to take a new test. Countries like Nepal, Sri Lanka and Vietnam are not included in this convention, the only exception being the Philippines. Thus, citizens from countries not on the list must either already hold a driving license issued by a country included in the convention, or obtain a European driving license by passing the whole examination process in accordance with the legislation in force"explains WORK FROM ASIA manager.
Economic problems after bringing foreigners to Romania to do taxi driving
Cristian Coman also talks about the economic impact of bringing foreigners to be taxi drivers in Romania. He argues that there could be serious imbalances on the local market which could affect Romanian licensed drivers. There could also be unfair competition with the importation of labor.
"On the other hand, the impact of such a measure on the local taxi market needs to be analyzed, so as not to create imbalances that would affect already authorized drivers and not to favor unfair competition. There is a risk that fleet owners or taxi operators may prefer to hire foreign drivers to the detriment of the local workforce, as they may accept lower wages. This could lead to unfair competition, affecting Romanian drivers who would no longer be able to practise their 'profession' under fair conditions"says the president of the Taxi Drivers Association Bucharest - Ilfov.
Advantages of foreign taxi drivers
Economist Adrian Negrescu also talks about the economic impact, but in positive terms. He says it all depends on supply and demand. Thus, importing foreigners would not create as big an imbalance in the market as industry fears.
"There is significant demand for labor in the transportation services market. Even Germany has changed the rules under which these drivers can access licenses. I think we could benefit. From the perspective of expanding services, the cost of doing business and legalizing much of the business. Let us not pretend that we do not see that tax evasion is still practiced in the taxi area. There are very many drivers who do not have all the necessary accreditations.
Which is why this measure does nothing but support the right companies, the ones that need the manpower and are willing to pay some employees as the law requires. It's all about supply and demand. Supply of labor and demand for services. I don't think it's going to come down to a fall in wages for those who come to work in this area. And that's because the demand for labor far outstrips the supply"says Adrian Negrescu for FANATIK.
How the process for getting a passenger transport license is changing
As of March 28, foreign citizens who want to become taxi drivers in Romania can take the exam adapted to their background. More specifically, the CPI (Initial Professional Qualification) examination can now be taken in English. The English-language questionnaires for the CPI freight/passenger, taxi driver/taxi driver for hire and taxi visa/visa for hire certification will be published soon by Romanian Road Authority.
And the theoretical examination in the computerized system will take place either in Romanian or in English. This depends on the language in which the foreign nationals have followed the periodic vocational training course. The practical examination will also take place in Romanian or English and only in Bucharest. There is, even so, reluctance about the pass rate of these tests.
"There are currently a number of conditions for foreigners to obtain a European driving license. For example, the driving test can be taken in English, but this does not automatically mean that all foreign nationals can take it and obtain a driving license valid in the EU"says Yosef Gavriel Peisakh.
Adrian Negrescu also shares the view that not many foreigners would get the attestation. "Even if we were to import 10-15 thousand people for these services, a small fraction of them would pass the license exams to be able to practice taxi driving in Romania".
The Certificate of Initial Professional Qualification (CPI) must be regularly updated by a Certificate of Continuing Professional Qualification (CPC), which is mandatory for all drivers in any EU Member State in order to be able to carry out their occupation.
