Most drivers in the Belgian capital speak little or no Dutch. And that must change, the government believes. “It is important to be able to make good agreements about the price, the journey, the destination. That is why it is important that a certain level of Dutch is reached,” says a spokesperson for the Flemish minister of mobility.
Way too difficult
All taxi drivers must have passed their language test by next summer at the latest, otherwise they will lose their taxi license. Many Brussels drivers complain that the test is far too difficult. Not only is a high level of language proficiency required, but the test is also partly administered in writing.
A spokesperson for a large taxi company with more than a hundred drivers in Brussels says they fear a staff shortage as a result of this law. He explains that his company regularly hires migrants, often from French-speaking countries. “You have to understand that those people don’t always have the language skills right away.”
Several drivers and companies have already announced legal action.
2023-12-17 21:05:01
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