«Breaking News» Uber drivers brand Sadiq Khan's £11.50 anti-pollution congestion charge 'discriminatory'

Drivers from private hire firms including Uber have accused London Mayor Sadiq Khan of discrimination towards ethnic minority workers over the anti-pollution congestion charge. 

A group taking legal action says the £11.50 charge is discriminatory since 94% of them are from black, Asian and other minority ethnic backgrounds.

The basis for their claim is that 'black cab' licensed taxis will remain exempt from the charge.

One Uber employee called it a 'tax on poor drivers'.

There is currently a major drive to cut congestion and air pollution and as a result as of 8 April, private hire vehicle drivers will have to pay the £11.50 daily congestion charge to drive in central London. 

Sadiq Khan has been accused of indirect discrimination towards a group of drivers 

The Mayor's office said the rise in private hire vehicles on London's streets will not be ignored. In the past decade the number of private hire drivers has rocketed from 59,000 to 114,000. There are now 1,000 fewer black cab drivers in the same period. 

London now has roughly 114,000 private hire (PHV) drivers, who are overwhelmingly from black, Asian and other minority ethnic backgrounds.

Uber driver Abdurzak Hadi told the BBC he will have to pay the charge himself and will be almost £60 a week worse off. 

He told the BBC: 'I will be punished for coming to work. This is a tax on poor drivers.' 

A report called 'Changes to the Congestion Charge' for City Hall states: 'As the majority of PHV drivers (about 94%) are from black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds (BAME) and many are from deprived areas, there is a disproportionate impact on these groups.'

The Independent Workers' Union of Great Britain (IWGB), is seeking a judicial review of the mayor's decision.

IWGB said it indirectly discriminates against BAME PHV drivers. 

They will argue under the Equality Act 2010 the Mayor's office has brought in a policy which treats people unfairly. 

IWGB general secretary Dr Jason Moyer-Lee said the move is 'discriminatory and fundamentally unfair'.

He told the BBC: 'We would urge the mayor to adopt one of the many alternative policies which would actually address congestion, instead of just penalising low-paid ethnic minority workers.'  

Drivers from Uber are among those taking on the legal challenge in a furious backlash 

In a statement, the mayor's office said: 'The number of private hire vehicles entering the congestion charge zone has shot up from 4,000 a day in 2003, when it first came into operation, to more than 18,000 now.

'Sadiq simply isn't prepared to ignore the damaging impact this has on congestion and increasing air pollution.

'Congestion has a crippling impact on businesses across the capital.

'At the same time, our toxic air in London is a major public health crisis that is stunting the lung development of our children, leading to thousands of premature deaths, and increases the risk of asthma and dementia.

'Removing the congestion charge exemption for private hire vehicles is a key part of our plans to both reduce congestion and to protect Londoners from harmful emissions from polluting vehicles.' 

Link hienalouca.com

https://hienalouca.com/2019/03/01/uber-drivers-brand-sadiq-khans-11-50-anti-pollution-congestion-charge-discriminatory/
Main photo article Drivers from private hire firms including Uber have accused London Mayor Sadiq Khan of discrimination towards ethnic minority workers over the anti-pollution congestion charge. 
A group taking legal action says the £11.50 charge is discriminatory since 94% of them are from black, Asian and other ...

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