Taxi drivers in France to strike against new NEMT system- as soon as a new government is formed
- The Transportation Alliance
- Sep 11
- 5 min read
Updated: 6 hours ago
By: Wim Faber, Dutch Journalist and Taxi Specialist, Dutch-Belgian Magazine (Magazine Personenvervoer)
German taxi industry focuses on minimum fares for platform-PHV's
Summer used to be a time when you could go on holiday or at least sit back and relax, but no longer it seems. Mobility and other news just race on. It’s been a long hot summer in Europe, even in often ‘cool’ and socially conscious Scandinavia, where the taxi industry not only suffers from ‘svarttaxis’ (illegal taxis working in the black via Facebook and other social media offering rock-bottom fares).
The taxi industry – like in most European countries - also criticises the lack of government policy aimed at curbing anti-social fare dumping by platforms. A pan-European disease. In Germany, some municipalities are increasingly instigating minimum fares for private hire vehicles (PHV’s) to curb both price dumping vis a vis the taxi industry, but also to counter antisocial and often illegal working conditions in the platform industry.
Proposed cuts in French NEMT
But first, let me take you to France, which for decades has had an excellent NEMT-system largely supported by a generous state and operated by local taxi operators. But for over a year, French taxi drivers have been at loggerheads with both the Health Secretary and the country’s entire health insurance system, proposing severe cuts in France’s medical transport system. On Friday September 5 this massive anger should have culminated in coordinated large-scale protests all over the country. Should have, because in view of the political challenges in the country, and the likely fall of the government, on September 2 this massive strike was postponed. The taxi industry’s reasoning: with a lame government without a Health Secretary as negotiating partner, a strike makes no sense.
Defending the rights of patients
The interesting thing about this strike, is that taxi drivers are not only defending their own interests, but also those of their regular clients, many of them patients. Judging by earlier actions in May and June, and the pent-up anger in the taxi industry, the strike, when announced, will have a 100% following. Besides, the French in general are masters at well-organised and tenacious strikes.
One of the organisers, all working in tandem, the National Taxi Federation (FNDT) said that "this mobilization applies not only to taxis, but also to insured people who risk losing an important service provider for their medical transport." The vast majority of taxis in the country (85%) provide NEMT-services. This activity, particularly in more rural areas in the country, is often essential to their business: According to France’s social security system, reimbursed trips account for half of the revenue of NEMT-contracted taxis, and for some drivers, as much as 80%.
If earlier strikes and go-slows are anything to go by, this protest will probably cripple major urban centers, with drivers gathering around train stations, ports, airports, gas stations, and hospitals across France. Earlier protests showed the growing discontent of taxi drivers, who argue that the changed pricing structure threatens their livelihoods and undermines the financial viability of providing essential medical transportation, particularly in the rural parts of the country. What angered the industry particularly, is that this essential health service partner is not listened to.
Severe cuts
Early August, the French authorities published the decree ratifying the ‘National Framework Agreement for Patient Transport’ without addressing any of the taxi profession's fundamental demands. In addition, there is a second plank to their protest, the illegal competition by platform drivers.
On August 8th, the decree of July 29, 2025 was published, and the government appears to have, against all odds, embarked on an implementation plan by October 1, 2025. Hoping to save €150 million ($ 175,8 million) annually in taxi costs (totalling an estimated €3.07 billion - $ 3,52 billion - out of a total budget of €6.74 billion ($ 7,90 billion). Yes, taxis are playing an increasingly important role, now accounting for almost half of the costs, compared to less than 20% in the early 2000s. A new government will likely try to keep these plans in place.
Basic and Metropolitan Flat Rates
The reform is based on a uniform pricing model applicable to all regions and provides for a so-called "care and support flat rate" of €13 ($ 15,24), which covers the first four kilometres (2.5 miles) with the customer. A so-called ‘metropolitan’ flat rate of €15 ($ 17,6) can be added to this basic flat rate only if the patient is picked up or dropped off in large cities like Marseille, Paris, Nice, Toulouse, Lyon, Strasbourg and others, or in regional cities.
The pricing annex to the new agreement specifies that this ‘metropolitan’ flat rate may, exceptionally and with approval, include facilities located on the borders of the cities and departments listed above. For journeys outside the ‘metropolitan’ package area, the ‘pick-up and escort package’ costs €13 ($ 15,24) per kilometre, based on the department (region) and the pick-up zone listed in the price appendix. This rate, with a minimum of €1.07 ($ 1,25) applies from the fifth kilometre in numerous regional areas. There rural taxi drivers are already denouncing the abandonment of their businesses and the neglect of areas where ‘medical deserts’ already exist. The taxi industry estimates the potential revenue loss from this reform at 30%, while the health insurance fund claims that the majority of taxis will benefit.
Other structural changes would include the mandatory implementation of the SEFi electronic billing system by January 2027, the introduction of a financial bonus to encourage shared rides, and the rapid implementation of a system approved by the French Health Insurance Fund.
Taxis resist
The swift publication of the decree further fueled protests among taxi drivers. After their representatives publicly condemned the project, the industry reaffirmed its readiness for a nationwide mobilization. To make patients aware of the consequences of this proposed reform for their access to healthcare, some professional associations are distributing leaflets with the slogan "Rural taxi, essential taxi," so that patients, especially in rural areas, can contact their health insurance companies to inquire about the conditions of their future transportation—assuming this transportation is still available.
Germany
With unfair competition by platform-PHV's being a burning theme all over Europe (and a major element in the French strikes), the German taxi industry is pushing for minimum fares for platform PHV’s in order to counter semi-legal practices. Slowly but surely municipalities and regions in Germany are adopting these minimum fares. Unfortunately the mayor of one of the largest cities in Germany, Munich, preferred to take a backward step when at the last minute he voted against minimum fares, openly siding with platforms.
After all, the value of minimum prices is to prevent platforms from continuing to offer dumping prices, forcing drivers to illegal practices. They are also intended to ensure a level playing field between taxis and PHV’s. Minimum prices are intended to ensure that social exploitation of drivers and the avoidance of various regulations in the PHV-sector becomes a thing of the past.
"In Munich, the taxi industry witnessed an unprecedented political farce,” commented Michael Oppermann, CEO of the Federal Association of Taxi and PHV’s (BVTM). “Uber is in charge, and [Munich's Mayor] Dieter Reiter is completely absorbed in the role of clown." But with Munich dumping the idea of minimum fares, thus moving away from creating a level playing (and competing) field between taxi and –platform PHV’s, more and more German municipalities are tightening unfettered and illegal competition from platform-PHV's by setting minimum fares.
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