1 week Ago By TEMALESI VONO
A GROUP of 14 drivers stopped driving for three hours in Suva on Monday, August 27, 1994, to check if the new working conditions under a new owner had been approved by the Principal Licensing Authority. According to an article published by The Fiji Times on Tuesday, August 27 that year, a condition was proposed that included drivers giving a nett income of $150 to Regent Taxis. “Under the conditions we would have to be appointed as agents to drive Regent Taxis,” a spokesperson said.
“The driver would be responsible for the payment of all taxes, and the Fiji National Provident Fund contributions due on his earnings as a taxidriver.” The conditions also stated the driver would be self-employed for the purposes of the agreement and would be responsible for paying for petrol or diesel. It also stated that drivers would exercise care and attention in driving their taxis, and that Regent Taxis would bear the costs of all maintenance, repairs and replacement of parts and accessories of the taxis.
The conditions, however, did not say who would have to pay for repairs to the taxis if they were involved in accidents, and the company or a taxidriver could terminate the agreement by giving one week’s notice. “We had talks with the Ministry of Employment officials yesterday morning, and drivers were told the conditions came under different departments and that they would reply to the queries after collecting information from the departments,” the spokesperson said. The new conditions had not been approved yet, and was still under process and were yet to be finalised, which meant drivers were still employed under the old conditions.
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