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Now, taxi drivers won’t say no to you

DUBAI — Six taxi drivers were fired from jobs last week for refusing to carry passengers, a top Dubai Taxi official has revealed.

Speaking to Khaleej Times, Ammar bin Tamim, Director of Dubai Taxi, said, “you should expect a change in the behaviour of drivers now. They will avoid saying ‘no’ to passengers. They will now be afraid of losing their jobs.”

The most common complaint lodged against the taxi drivers at the hotline 8009090 is their refusal to stop for passengers, Tamim disclosed.

“We have also learnt that some of the drivers ask for destinations, and if the passenger wants to travel to crowded areas they refuse to carry them,” he said.

Tamim said the six drivers, who were sacked, were thrice issued warnings in the past. Explaining the process further, he said: “We first warn the drivers verbally. If they repeat the offence, they are fined Dh500. Upon the third and final warning, they are given training and lessons on the labour law. If they still repeat the offence, their services are terminated.”

This system is not new but Dubai Taxi has decided to implement it more strictly now following the growing number of complaints from taxi users.

Meanwhile, passengers have welcomed the move of the taxi management. “The attitude of drivers often puts me off,” said Norma C, a Filipina who works in Al Quoz and stays in Deira.

“On a number of occasions, I have waited endlessly for a taxi after a long day’s work. They either ignore me or simply refuse to carry me when I tell them I shall be going to Deira,” she added.

Said Maleeha K, a resident of Dubai: “I signalled a taxi to stop near my office yesterday. I had to go to Bur Dubai. But as soon as I told the driver of the destination, he sped away without giving any explanation. I felt humiliated because I had been standing in the sun for almost an hour.”

Taxi drivers, on the other hand, say they are forced to avoid passengers travelling to crowded areas because traffic jams take up a lot of their time. “If we have to earn a commission on our monthly earnings, then we have to make more trips. If we get stuck up in traffic jams, we do not save anything,” said a driver.