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Over 100 tuk-tuk drivers gathered at Seize’s Phnom Penh workplace to protest low fares, elevating considerations over the corporate’s implementation of beforehand mentioned pricing changes, amid larger LPG costs.
In a earlier protest in early April, the drivers demanded a rise within the base charge of 1,200 riel per kilometer from present charges, and a discount of 12 to fifteen p.c in fee charges. Seize agreed to a brief fare enhance of $0.30 per kilometer and diminished its fee to fifteen p.c.
This morning (April 27), the drivers didn’t attain an settlement however proceeded to submit a petition to the Labor Ministry, calling on them to induce ride-hailing firms to set a typical base fare throughout platforms.
Nonetheless, Seize maintained its coverage, noting that an settlement was reached with drivers throughout the protest early this month.
“At the moment, the corporate violated that settlement, particularly on the bottom fare, which all apps had set at 3,000 riel, together with further 200 riel [as service commission],” mentioned Sok Pheaktra, a tuk-tuk driver who joined the protest.
“Throughout our earlier protest, we agreed on 12,000 riel per kilometre, however now we’re shedding out on the three,000 riel base fare throughout all apps. Seize diminished the worth to 2,000 riel. That’s the reason we are going to proceed protesting,” he mentioned.
He alleged that Seize eliminated 1,000 riel for every journey. “So, we now have misplaced some huge cash, and we are able to’t settle for it,” Pheaktra mentioned. “Generally, Seize’s
calculation reduces from 1,200 riel to 1,000 or 1,100 riel. This isn’t steady pricing.”
Amid unstable fares, tuk-tuk drivers have additionally raised considerations over rising LPG costs, now at round 3,700 riel per liter, which they are saying reduces their each day earnings.
Gas costs in Cambodia and globally spiked following strikes by america and Israel on Iran, triggering retaliatory assaults and disrupting site visitors by means of the Strait of Hormuz, a key delivery route for a couple of fifth of the world’s oil provide.
“We have now been impacted since fuel costs elevated. Our earnings is now between 60,000 and 70,000 riel per day,” mentioned driver Pheakdey, noting that earnings had been double that earlier than the fuel worth rise.
One other driver, Sam Nak, echoed related considerations and referred to as on Seize to carry a gathering.
“It’s affecting our livelihood as fuel costs have elevated. We’re asking the corporate to revive the earlier base fare of three,000 riel. Generally, we now have to spend more money on repairs when our tuk-tuk breaks down,” he mentioned.
“We got here right here to protest due to this heavy burden. We may face challenges, as showing on digital camera could lead on the corporate to droop our app accounts,” Nak mentioned, referring to footage of them being taken by the media.
Kan Chhunnat, Public Affairs and Coverage Supervisor of Seize Cambodia, mentioned that they’ve fulfilled the demand of the tuk-tuk drivers from the final assembly.
“We have now applied [requests] from the assembly providing 15 p.c. If there may be any extra, we are going to refund them the cash the subsequent day,” he mentioned.
“The speed for the primary kilometer is 3,200 riel [even if a] passenger travels just one kilometer [500 or 600 meters]. If the passenger travels greater than two kilometers, our charge is 2,000 riel per kilometer,” Chhunat mentioned.
“It’s nothing new, that is the method that we now have applied since 2022 […] Seize [price] can go up and down based on timing,” he mentioned.
Chhunat defined that as for the kilometer charge of 1,200 riel, it may be barely over or beneath as a result of for seize (ride-hailing), the system calculates primarily based on site visitors hours and when it rains.
“Our associate drivers have misunderstood. The truth is, we already defined that the costs we applied haven’t modified — that means the speed of two,000 riel per kilometer has been in place since 2022,” he added.
Labor Ministry spokesperson Solar Mesa mentioned they’ve obtained the petition and are reviewing it earlier than addressing the problem.
