“If this passes, our businesses will close”: this reform project which worries taxi drivers

In the early morning, on the outskirts of Lyon, the ring road was already saturated this Monday morning. Around 3,000 health taxi drivers have paralyzed access to the Lyon metropolis. “A bit of a hassle”, smiles a motorist. “It’s true that blocking the road is a bit complex because there are people working. It adds a good 20 to 30 minutes,” breathes another.

At the origin of the blockage, the reduction in the prices of medical shopping. In 2023, they cost Social Security 6.3 billion euros. To save money, the government wants to reduce their support by 300 million euros. And this should directly affect the turnover of drivers. “Social Security recommends that our turnover be reduced by 30 to 40%. Our businesses are no longer viable. If this happens, our businesses will close. There is no other choice. We can't live”explains Yaëlle Esquis in the video at the top of this article.

If the reform is adopted, some drivers will not be able to maintain their current salary. Nor those of their employees. “My expenses will not decrease. But I will have less turnover, so I will be less able to get by on my salary. It will become problematic to pay for the car, insurance, diesel, mutual insurance. The expenses will not go down. not go down!”, lists Valérie Cortial, independent driver for 26 years.

Anger is not confined to Lyon. Slowdowns also took place this Monday morning on the outskirts of Marseille and around thirty towns in France. The movement is expected to last at least until Thursday.