Drivers Association Warns Gov’t Taxi Fleet Will Fail Without Meters

The Drivers Association of Maldives (DAM) has warned that the government’s proposed city taxi fleet service is likely to fail, reiterating that the only sustainable solution to Malé’s long-standing taxi issues is the introduction of taxi meters.

Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, DAM representative Ibrahim Niyaz said taxi drivers had been excluded from all planning and consultation efforts related to the project. He claimed the initiative was being formulated “in secrecy” and without regard for industry realities.

advertisement

advertisement

advertisement

Niyaz said the project would not succeed without driver involvement. He stressed that the introduction of taxi meters remained the most practical and transparent solution, noting that DAM had even conducted a survey on the matter in 2014.

The government signed a memorandum of understanding with the Maldives Transport and Contracting Company and the Ministry of Transport on 15 February to establish a new city taxi fleet. However, many existing drivers have expressed concern that the initiative could threaten their livelihoods.

Niyaz argued that expanding the number of taxis without regulating fares through meters would deprive drivers of fair earnings. He described the recruitment component of the project as a misuse of state funds and labelled it a “scam.”

MTCC has recently announced plans to hire 285 full-time drivers on one-year contracts, with extensions dependent on performance. These drivers will work eight-hour shifts for six days a week. A further 122 part-time drivers will be recruited to work up to 28 hours per week, though additional details are yet to be disclosed.

The introduction of taxi meters was first proposed by the Ministry of Transport in 2017, but the policy was never implemented.

Transport Minister Mohamed Ameen previously stated on state media that the government taxi service would begin operating in July 2025. The timeline was later revised to August, and in September he told Sun that the service was in its final preparation stages, with some vehicle modifications pending. A confirmed launch date has yet to be announced.

While some industry stakeholders have warned that the government-run service could negatively affect private taxi operators, Ameen has maintained that drivers will not be harmed. He said the fleet would include vehicles of different sizes, including compact cars designed for narrow streets, and would operate based on public demand rather than driver availability.