CAPPING NUMBERS TO PAY REFORM: GMB union demands urgent action to boost private hire licensing
- Perry Richardson
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
The GMB union has called for immediate changes to the taxi and private hire licensing system, claiming it fails to provide basic safety and welfare protections for drivers.
In a message to its members, GMB said that while current licensing rules include detailed obligations for operators and passenger safety, they remain “almost silent” on the safety of drivers. The union argues that this gap is no longer acceptable, particularly as the private hire industry continues to play a central role in modern transport systems.
GMB is calling for three key safety measures to be introduced as part of national licensing standards. These include the removal of all vehicle signage to protect driver anonymity, the mandatory installation of CCTV with audio recording in vehicles, and a requirement for operators to regularly review their health and safety policies to include driver protection.
The union also raised concerns about the long-term sustainability of the sector. It said rising driver and vehicle numbers are reducing earnings for individual drivers, with benefits mainly going to operators and riders. GMB said that drivers are reporting falling hourly pay, pushing many to drive longer hours to make up the shortfall. The union warned this has negative consequences for infrastructure, traffic congestion and the environment.
The union also highlighted a lack of transparency in fare calculations. It says drivers are banned by some operators from asking passengers about the fares they paid, leaving drivers unable to assess whether earnings are fair.
To address these issues, GMB is calling for new national licensing powers. These include the ability for regulators to cap driver and vehicle numbers, operator licences to include driver caps, and transparent, standardised fare calculations. The union also wants consistency in how driver deactivations are handled and for the principle of natural justice to apply to all dispute procedures between drivers and riders.
GMB has a long-standing presence in the private hire and taxi sector and argues that driver welfare must now be treated with the same priority as passenger safety.
