For a taxi driver, a few cents can make a difference at the end of a long day.

But with the cost of keeping a taxi on the road continuing to rise, operators say the current fare is already putting pressure on their livelihoods.

The Fiji Zone Taxi Association will be preparing a submission to the FCCC, asking for the current 14-cent running charge to remain while a full review of taxi fares is carried out.

FCCC wants the submission to reflect the actual costs drivers are facing, including fuel, vehicle maintenance, insurance, loan repayments and other operating expenses.

The Fiji Zone Taxi Association is asking FCCC to maintain the current 14-cent running charge while it prepares its formal submission.

Fiji Zone Taxi Association Treasurer, Ravinesh Kumar, highlights the pressure facing drivers trying to make ends meet.

“The real picture, even a good driver saving about $7,000 a year, is still $5,000 short of basic living cost” Kumar said.

The association is concerned that reducing the running charge could further affect what drivers take home each week, while also making it harder to keep vehicles properly maintained and on the road.

Fiji Zone Taxi Association President, Mohammed Shameem, is calling for the current fare to remain while the industry’s submission is considered.

“Our only request to you today is maintain the current fare until full determination has been done” Shameem highlighted.

“We would like to get a request to FCCC, the CEO, the Honorable Lady here with us today from FCCC. Our plea here is the cry that we would like to have this fare maintained for the next interim period of time, for the next three months before we will be able to submit” he continued.

Fiji Competition and Consumer Commission Chief Executive Officer, Senikavika Jiuta, makes clear that the industry’s evidence will be critical to any further review.

“So please give us those submissions. Right? Whatever evidence your team has, and the board has on behalf of the operators, please submit it” Jiuta said.

“We can’t work on assumptions. We don’t work on assumptions. We work on evidence and actual documents that you will submit” she continued.

FCCC has reaffirmed that it is prepared to review the concerns, but needs actual information from operators, including fuel receipts, loan statements, maintenance costs and income figures, before making another determination.

By: Joeli Ragoneliwa