CRI听力:Taxi Drivers' Rights Ensured

China has more than 7,000 taxi companies, one million cabs and two million cab drivers. Most of the cabs are owned by companies and rented to individuals at high prices, sometimes through middle men.

Drivers who own their cabs are affiliated with cab companies and have to pay a large amount of money to operate under that company's license. Drivers are also responsible for insurance and repairs.

However, in Shiyan, things are different. Local cab companies have labor contracts with drivers, which means drivers don't have to pay much and their rights are safeguarded. Pan Huaqiang, head of a cab company in Shiyan, explains.

"Drivers pay a lower deposit, and their annual check up, repairs, wages and insurance are all paid by our taxi company."

The deposit of 7400 yuan a month to the cab company is all the drivers need to pay. Pan adds that drivers there save an average of 2400 yuan a month comparing with previous management or rental fees.

Since 2008, labor contract between drivers and cab companies were adopted in Shiyan city. Taxi companies are responsible for purchasing taxis and buying insurance, and they also pay social insurance and cover repairs.

Liu Yu, a local taxi driver, says this move is welcomed by the cab drivers.

"Now we are treated as employees rather than temporary workers. All we need to concern ourselves with is how to provide better service for our consumers and how to do our job better."

Liang Yong, another taxi driver, says the labor contract reduced his considerable stress.

"The taxi operation model implemented in Shiyan is very good. First of all, it relieves our financial burden. Previously, taxi drivers had to invest about 50,000 to 60,000 yuan, sometimes even 100,000 or 200,000 yuan, before getting operating rights."

In addition, the local government in Shiyan has taken measures to encourage taxi companies to relieve drivers of their financial burdens. The annual license fee required by the government has been decreased from 42,000 yuan to 10,000 yuan. There are also privileged taxation policies for taxi companies.

In most cities around the country, cab drivers work in pairs so that the same taxi can be on the road day and night due to the fees being too high for just one driver.

Feng Zhenglin, Vice Minister of Transport, said earlier this year that the government would take steps to ensure that every driver can have at least one day off a week.

For CRI, I am Zhang Wan.