Two weeks after another round of oil price hikes, taxi drivers
in Beijing will receive possible financial support.
In addition to the existing monthly petrol subsidy of 300 yuan
(US$37), taxi drivers whose cab charges are 1.6 yuan (20 US cents)
or 2 yuan (25 US cents) per kilometer will be given 150 yuan
(US$18) per month, the Beijing Times reported.
But not all taxi drivers will get the additional subsidy, as it
is the taxi companies instead of the city government that will
provide the money.
The report says only drivers employed by large companies will
get the subsidy, and some drivers have been getting additional
subsidies since April 1.
The existing subsidy, which is jointly provided by the municipal
government and taxi companies, is given to all 66,000 taxi drivers
in Beijing.
It started after fuel prices rose by about 6 percent across the
country last July, but when oil prices jumped from 4.26 yuan (53 US
cents) a liter to 4.65 yuan (57 US cents) at the end of last month,
the subsidy was too small to cover the rise in petrol costs.
But China Daily's random street survey yesterday of six
taxi drivers from six different companies, showed that none of the
respondents had received the additional subsidy.
"I've never heard of it," said 40-year-old Sun Zhili with
Beijing Yinjian Passenger Transport Company. The latest price hike
has added at least 10 yuan (US$1.2) to his daily petrol bill, thus
seriously reducing his already thin profits.
"I have to work from 6:00?AM to 10:00?PM every day.
Even so, my monthly income never exceeds 2,000 yuan (US$250)," said
Sun.
"Now, I often wait in front of university gates or hotels. I
cannot afford the petrol if I drive along the streets without
passengers."
Taxi drivers will not enjoy any petrol subsidies if a possible
taxi fare adjustment is put in place soon. The report says a taxi
price hearing is imminent on the re-adjustment of taxi charges per
kilometer.
But Tang Shi, a cab driver with Beifang Taxi Company, said
drivers are actually unwilling to raise their unit price because "a
price rise means a fall in customers."
(China Daily April 10, 2006)