Labor and social policy

The VSPV continues its political work for the introduction of a statutory entitlement to inclusion taxis. In a meeting with the chair of the Bundestag's Committee on Labour and Social Affairs, Bernd Rützel, the association presented its proposals for codification in the Social Code.

According to the association, the planned end of contribution-free mini-jobs and the mandatory pension insurance for new self-employed could hinder staff recruitment and business startups in the trades.

While the public debate about the new GKV contribution-rate stabilization law revolves mainly around hospitals, doctors, and rising health insurance contributions, the taxi and rental-car industry looks to Berlin with growing concern. For there, with the GKV reform, nothing less than the future of many taxi businesses is at stake.

In Germany, the discussion about barrier-free mobility is often reduced to elevators, train platforms and low-floor buses – but that is only part of the problem. Taxi and rental-car traffic has so far mostly played only a secondary role in it. The VSPV and the SoVD are pressing to enshrine the Inclusion Taxi in the Social Code as binding.

According to the associations, around 70 million euros annually could enable the creation of a nationwide, secured solution for accessible taxi services.

After failed negotiations, pressure on AOK and transport service providers is mounting. The minister warns of the consequences of the strained finances of the funds, but emphasizes that insured persons can continue to be transported – also through other contracting partners.

The city and the taxi and private-hire vehicle sector are wrangling over minimum prices. The council is set to decide at the end of September, with new fixed taxi fares up for a vote at the same time.

250 taxi companies with 6,000 employees are struggling with losses. Social insurance fraud running into the millions and the lack of minimum fares are exacerbating the situation. The industry is calling for the same rules for all providers.

A ZDF documentary recently reignited a debate about abuse in the social welfare system. Also in focus: how drivers for Uber & Co. deliberately exploit the social welfare system. 

A CDU politician and two associations want to politically anchor the inclusion taxi. Patrick Meinhardt, chief executive of the TMV, recently spoke with the new labor and social policy spokesperson of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group, Marc Biadacz. Topic: the so-called inclusion taxi - a service aimed at providing people in wheelchairs with barrier-free mobility. The goal is to anchor the model long-term in the Social Code.