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Morocco to Launch Unified Electronic Cards for Taxi Drivers
🇲🇦 Morocco /Economy & Trade

Morocco to Launch Unified Electronic Cards for Taxi Drivers

From Hespress · (1d ago) Arabic

Translated from Arabic, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • Morocco's Ministry of Interior plans to replace old taxi permits with unified smart electronic cards valid for five years.
  • New regulations will restrict taxi operation to professionals, prevent non-professional contract renewals, and limit one permit per person.
  • The reforms aim to regulate drivers, enhance security, ensure fare compliance, and modernize the taxi sector, especially in light of international events like the 2030 World Cup.

Morocco is poised to significantly reform its taxi sector with the introduction of unified electronic smart cards, replacing the traditional 'rancid' permit system. The Ministry of Interior's comprehensive national plan aims to streamline operations, enhance transparency, and professionalize the industry. This initiative is particularly timely given Morocco's increasing prominence on the international stage, including its co-hosting of the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which necessitates modernized infrastructure and services.

The necessity of political courage from the government, specifically the Ministry of Interior, to move forward in definitively cutting ties with the 'reign' system and the privileges associated with 'm'aazouniyat' (concessions) that shackle the transport sector.

— Mustapha El KihalMustapha El Kihal, Secretary-General of the Moroccan Democratic Transport Union, emphasized the need for decisive action against outdated systems.

The new regulations will restrict taxi operation exclusively to licensed professionals, prohibiting the renewal of contracts for non-professional operators and capping permits at one per individual. This move directly addresses long-standing issues of 'reign' and privilege associated with the 'm'aazouniyat' (concessions) that have historically encumbered the transport sector. Union leaders, such as Mustapha El Kihal of the Moroccan Democratic Transport Union, have stressed the need for political will to decisively break from this outdated system, calling the current measures 'patchwork solutions' that do not address the root causes of the sector's challenges.

The current solutions are nothing more than 'patchwork solutions' that do not serve the depth of the desired reform.

— Mustapha El KihalMustapha El Kihal criticized the existing measures as insufficient for fundamental change.

Furthermore, the reform includes the establishment of local registries to better manage drivers and facilitate contracts with permit holders. Security oversight will be tightened to ensure adherence to legal tariffs and quality standards. This is crucial in combating illegal transport services, often facilitated by ride-sharing apps, which have created an uneven playing field and led to conflicts between licensed professionals and unregistered operators. The current system, rooted in a 1963 decree, has struggled to adapt to modern technological advancements and the influx of informal competition.

The transport sector in Morocco is historically based on the Sherifian Dahir of 1963, which regulates the three basic categories.

— Mohamed El HarkaniMohamed El Harkani, regional secretary of the General Union of Moroccan Workers for small taxis in Marrakech, provided historical context for the sector.

From a Moroccan perspective, this digital transformation of the taxi industry is a critical step towards modernization and efficiency. It signals a commitment to aligning the sector with international standards and preparing for major global events. The focus on professionalization and regulation aims to ensure fair competition, improve service quality for citizens and tourists alike, and create a more stable environment for taxi drivers. The Ministry's plan to consult with professionals and the public underscores a desire for a comprehensive and inclusive reform that balances technological progress with the rights and livelihoods of those in the sector, moving beyond the 'narrow vision' of past management practices.

The emergence of individuals foreign to the profession engaging in clandestine transport without right.

— Mohamed El HarkaniMohamed El Harkani described the issue of illegal transport services.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Hespress in Arabic. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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