Complaints from Beijing taxi drivers that they work long hours but make little money after payments to their monopoly bosses have aroused concerns among members of the municipal legislature and the top advisory conference.

Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) Beijing Committee deputy Qiang Lei told China Daily that the worrying conditions for cabbies must be settled urgently.

"Setting up trade unions at taxi management companies is a reasonable way to safeguard the rights of drivers," said Qiang, a professor at the Beijing Business Management Cadres Training College.

After years of investigation, Qiang said almost all Beijing taxi drivers tell the same story.

They have to pay around 40,000 yuan (US$4,800) in cab deposits first to a taxi company in order to obtain licenses.

Many get up early and drive their company-owned cabs for at least 13-14 hours almost everyday. In a good month, they can earn about 8,000 yuan (US$970).

However, whether it's a good or bad month, they must pay their companies, or beneficiaries in the monopolized sector, at least 4,800 yuan (US$580) as rental fees.

"What's more, the drivers themselves must pay for gas and maintenance besides the income taxes, which is an additional 2,200 yuan (US$266),'' said Qiang. "Do not mention that if a driver violates traffic rules, his companies will fine him at least 1,000 yuan (US$121)."

Taxi service in the capital city has remained a monopolized sector, in which taxi companies hold licenses for taxi drivers. A senior official from the Municipal Transportation Commission said on Tuesday that the sector was unlikely to be open this year.

"Considering the overloaded work hours, prohibitive cab deposits, expensive rental fees and heavy fines that taxi drivers deal with, all these lead to worrying conditions for the workers," said Qiang. "All these problems should be solved by trade unions, which can negotiate with taxi companies and related government organs."

"After all, the strength of a trade union is much stronger than that of a single person."

The professor said he heard many complaints from cabbies and some even want to go on strike.

"Taxi drivers are definitely workers and they must have the right to join a union according to law," Qiang noted.

He said that the situation would be very serious if the nearly 10,000 Beijing cabbies were to go on strike, as "the city would be immediately crippled."

However, most drivers dare not express their complaints openly but have to accept all the clauses on the labor contract set by the taxi companies, "because thousands of people in the countryside are waiting for the limited number of posts without any requirements," said Qiang.

(China Daily February 20, 2004)