Private hire drivers in London are facing significant challenges due to ongoing delays in licence renewals by Transport for London (TfL). These delays have rendered many drivers unable to work legally, directly impacting their livelihoods and causing financial hardship for numerous families.
The situation escalated on a recent Thursday when dozens of drivers, organized by the Independent Workers Union of Great Britain (IWGB), staged a protest outside TfL’s Stratford office. Demonstrators linked arms and blocked access, holding placards with messages such as “I can’t feed my family” and “TfL: End this licence hell.” The protest highlighted the urgency of the issue, with drivers expressing frustration over months of lost income and the risk of mounting debts, repossessions, and even homelessness.
TfL attributes the backlog in licence renewals to a cyberattack in 2023 and complications arising from the implementation of a new IT system. Despite the introduction of emergency licence extensions intended to alleviate the pressure, the IWGB criticizes the process as slow and inconsistent, failing to meet the needs of affected drivers.
Nader Awaad, Chair of the IWGB Private Hire Drivers Branch, stated:
"The IWGB continues to lead the fight against TfL’s license delays, which are devastating the lives of countless drivers. Time and again, we’ve taken to the streets and confronted TfL on their doorstep. That pressure has delivered some results — we’ve already helped hundreds of drivers get back on the road — but TfL is still falling far short of what’s needed to fix this crisis. We urge any drivers affected by these delays to reach out and join the fight."
The delay in licence renewals not only affects drivers but also impacts the broader travel and transport sector in London, where private hire vehicles provide essential services to millions of passengers annually. According to TfL statistics, the private hire sector accounts for over 60,000 licensed vehicles in the capital, underscoring the scale of disruption caused by the administrative delays.
The matter has also drawn attention from the London Assembly’s Transport Committee, where union representatives voiced concerns over TfL’s action plan, calling for clearer measures to resolve the backlog swiftly and prevent further economic distress among drivers.
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