The Parliament of Catalonia has accepted for processing the new bill that will regulate the taxi and VTC sector in Barcelona and the rest of the territory. The initiative, jointly promoted by PSC, Junts, ERC, the Comuns, and the CUP, enters its decisive phase starting next year.
Immediate Impact on the Urban Transportation Sector
The processing of this law marks a new chapter after the royal decree approved in 2019, known as the Calvet decree. The sector's employers' associations warn that the regulations could lead to the destruction of approximately 4,000 jobs in VTCs in the short term. Currently, it is estimated that there is a shortage of about 2,000 taxi drivers in the metropolitan area of Barcelona, while more than 1,600 taxis work for Uber in the city.
The legal text establishes a two or three-year adaptation period for both the incorporation of new professionals into the taxi service and the gradual elimination of urban VTCs. This transition will directly affect pending applications.
"Once the more than 5,000 pending cases are firm, the authorizations of these vehicles will have to be revoked" - Tito Álvarez, spokesperson for Élite Taxi
Linguistic Obligations and New Conditions for Taxi Drivers
The future law introduces the obligation not to refuse any user, except in cases of intoxicated individuals or those posing a danger. Furthermore, linguistic requirements for drivers are strengthened. The text foresees requiring an oral Catalan level B1 retroactively and a two-year moratorium for compliance.
"This law includes obligations, such as real knowledge of Catalan and Spanish, and there are taxi drivers in Barcelona who do not want to take language exams"
From Élite Taxi, they assure that they have reached an agreement with three parties for the required level to be B2, both oral and written
"Élite Taxi is going further and we already have an agreement with three parties to require B2, which is oral and written"
Calendar and Approval Expectations
The parliamentary process will continue over the coming months. The promoters are committed to having the law approved before Easter.
"My commitment is that it be approved in March, before Holy Week"
The taxi and VTC sector in Barcelona and the rest of Catalonia thus faces one of the most relevant reforms in recent years, with a period of adaptation and new requirements for both professionals and companies.