Taxi union demands 40% fare increase

THE Namibia Transport and Taxi Union (NTTU) is demanding at least a 40% taxi fare increment which will see the price for a single trip being hiked from N$13 to N$19.

The union’s president, Werner Januarie, made this demand in a letter to the Ministry of Works and Transport, and he threatened a demonstration if no action is taken.

“Please note current fuel [price] increase effective from 6 April 2022 will far exceed the price of taxi per occupant, hence this notice is being issued.

“We have been receiving demands from our members on the increased fuel prices and how unfair N$13 taxi fares are. We have done our calculations and it is only fair that we increase the taxi fare to at least N$19, so that it matches the N$19,60 per litre,” Januarie said.

He said if taxi fares are not increased, their members will be operating at a big loss.

“Our industry is not a charity (sic) organisation, and our members need to make a profit because that is the only way we can put bread on our tables,” he said.

He added that the aim is to have the taxi fare increased from N$20 to N$25 in future.

“We understand that some people are unable to afford taxi fares but that is not our problem because workers at Shoprite belong to a union like Nafau (the Namibia Food and Allied Workers Union), so they should demand for a salary increment,” he said.

Januarie also told The Namibian that when a union fails to respond to their members ‘ pleas for salary increases, they should leave and find other trusted unions.

“Our members and the union cannot suffer because of others who choose not to put in work. We will not take up or tolerate a lazy attitude from others,” he added.

He asserted that NTTU’s members are their priority, and no other opinion matters.

The Namibian reached out to transport ministry spokesperson Julius Ngweda, who responded that a union like NTTU has no mandate or power to propose a 40% increment.

“In terms of the law, only operators with a public operator permit can bring a proposal forward to the ministry,” Ngweda said.

He, however, added that they will look into the matter and respond to the letter when it is received.

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