Armenia`s online taxi service drivers protest in Yerevan

ArmInfo. Drivers from an Armenian online taxi service held a protest in Yerevan's Brazil  Square and began collecting signatures for a collective statement demanding improved working conditions. They plan intend to submit the statement o the Armenian government.

In an interview with journalists, Mesrop Manukyan, a member of the  Yerevan City Hall Council of Elders from the "Mother Armenia"  faction, explained that he had been approached by taxi drivers  working in the online sector, adding that approximately  120,000-130,000 people work in this industry, with around 40,000  drivers  being engaged in this business full-time and earning an  average income of approximately 200,000 drams per month.

Manukyan emphasized that taxi drivers are demanding protection of  their rights. Specifically, they are calling  for the state to take  into account the profits of online taxi companies, reduce high  interest rates, and ensure that drivers are officially registered as  employees. This will allow them to receive pensions in the future and  become beneficiaries of the Universal Health Insurance Fund.   According to him, their plan is to collect signatures for two days,  and then submit a petition to the Armenian government. "Following the  submission of their demands to the government, the drivers will  decide on further action based on the government's response. If their  demands are not met, the drivers will begin peaceful protests,"  Manukyan concluded.