President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has made the decision to formulate a national register of taxi drivers. The decision was made following discussions on a paper during a Cabinet meeting.
At a press conference, Principal Secretary to the President Abdulla Nazim Ibrahim said that taxi driving has yet to be formally designated as an official income-generating profession. Consequently, taxi drivers face obstacles in applying for loans and providing income information to institutions to access essential services.
As such, Nazim said that formulating a national register of taxi drivers is part of the efforts to make taxi driving an official income-generating profession. The register will be maintained at the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation. He detailed that the Cabinet discussed the establishment of a digital payment system for taxi fares. They also discussed consulting with banks on abolishing fees charged under such a payment system.
Additionally, the Cabinet discussed the development of a taxi system in the Maldives in line with the developed countries. The ministry was also instructed to submit a detailed paper on providing taxi services in a modern country. President Muizzu further instructed the ministry to hold discussions with the relevant stakeholders, especially the taxi drivers, as to safeguard their rights during their work.
Furthermore, Nazim said President Muizzu has decided to prepare the necessary paperwork to commence environmentally friendly taxi services in Rasmale'. The President has instructed the Economic Council to plan and implement a system whereby a state-owned company or multiple companies can handle investments when an environmentally friendly taxi service is established in Rasmale'. The President ordered all the work to be completed within the year.