Morocco Launches Major Overhaul of Taxi Industry to Improve Service Quality

The transport sector needs to be restructured to make it more competitive, the minister said, stressing the need to strengthen communication with industry professionals and raise awareness about improving the quality of services provided by taxis. Abdelouafi Laftit invited the walis and governors to set new operating conditions for taxis and grant licenses in order to ensure that the taxis operating in their jurisdiction provide quality services and fully meet the needs of customers.

The Minister of the Interior also insisted on the collaboration between the competent services and organizations responsible for controlling the operating conditions of taxis in railway stations, bus stations, airports, ports as well as stations and stopping points in highly frequented areas. Laftit also instructed the local authorities to put an end to the manifestations of disorder and abuse noted in these places, recalling the obligation for professionals to display the regulated rates inside the taxis, as well as in the stations and stops.

The minister asked the competent services to carry out regular checks on the meters in the taxis and to sanction the drivers who increase the prices of transport services in an anarchic manner, in accordance with the laws and regulations in force. The member of the government also invited the local authorities to organize training and awareness-raising sessions for taxi drivers to help them improve the quality of their services and better treat customers.

The Minister of the Interior also invited to honor the taxi drivers who respect the codes of ethics of the profession and stand out for the quality of their services, in order to encourage the others to follow their example and improve their performance. He also called for the establishment of a customer complaint handling service, the withdrawal of old taxis from circulation and their replacement by new ones, offering modern services such as booking through call centers, digital platforms and mobile applications.