Taxi industry calls for relief

Fiji's taxi operators are urgently calling on the government for financial relief as escalating fuel prices and operating costs push the industry to the brink.

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Taxi operators cannot continue to absorb these costs indefinitely. Taxis do not run on water.

The Fiji Taxi Association president, Mohammed Faiyaz, stated that a 14-year period without a fare review has left drivers struggling. He pointed out that current fuel prices, nearly double what they were just a few years ago, place immense pressure on an industry where fares have remained stagnant since 2011.

Faiyaz drew a stark contrast with bus operators, who have received multiple fare increases and government subsidies. He noted that the taxi industry, largely composed of small business owners operating single vehicles to support their families, has been overlooked. While the government acknowledged the economic pressures on bus companies, it has failed to recognize the similar crisis facing taxi drivers.

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Every litre of fuel we purchase now costs almost double what operators were paying just a few years ago, yet our fares remain virtually unchanged from 2011.

The situation is further exacerbated by an increase in illegal taxi operations. The association is demanding immediate government support, including a fare review and increase, stricter enforcement against illegal operators, and a long-term sustainability plan for the taxi industry. Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has indicated that all such requests must follow official government processes for assessment and consideration.

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The reality is that bus companies are often owned by large, established and influential businesses. The taxi industry, on the other hand, is overwhelmingly made up of ordinary Fijians operating small businesses, many of whom own only one vehicle and rely on it to support their families.