Private hire drivers oppose “discriminatory” English Language Test policy from Transport for London

• London based private hire drivers are speaking out against policy changes that see drivers required to pass two English Language Tests before receiving their Public Carriage Office (PCO) licence.
• From 1 October 2021 the English Language Requirement was changed, forcing drivers to complete two £36 tests, with only one opportunity to re-sit.
• Drivers — of whom over 90% are from BAME backgrounds, and over 80% are migrant workers — are calling the policy “fundamentally unfair and discriminatory”.

Wednesday 17 August: Private hire drivers from the Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain (IWGB) are condemning a policy that requires workers to pass two English Language Tests in order to work in London.

The two tests, the first speaking and listening and the second reading and writing, were brought in in October 2021 and cost £36 to sit and £16 to resit. Drivers are only entitled to resit the examinations once. These costs come on top of other licence application costs, which TfL estimate to cost approximately £477.

Members of the IWGB's United Private Hire Drivers' branch (UPHD)  — around 82% of which are migrant workers and 94% of which are from BAME backgrounds — are calling the tests “unfair” and “discriminatory”. Drivers say the policy is an “indirect attack on the non-white and immigrant communities whose labour is essential to London’s economy and which will cause serious stress and worry for many drivers who have driven for years without any issues relating to communications or safety.”

Drivers are demanding subsidised English lessons, a removal of the resit limit, and the ability to use documented evidence as proof of the English Language Requirement, as was possible before these changes. Drivers are asking people to sign a petition directed to Sadiq Khan.

Nader Awaad, Uber driver and Chair of IWGB UPHD says, “Many of us private hire drivers have driven for years without any problems or complaints, satisfying customers and helping to keep London’s economy going. This change in policy disproportionately affects migrant workers, and will see thousands of drivers burdened with extra costs and worries, to the disadvantage of both workers and customers alike.”

Alex Marshall, President of IWGB says, “TfL seem to forget that the private hire infrastructure that exists in London is built off the backs of hard-working migrant drivers, who it is choosing to punish with these superfluous new rules. London couldn’t function in the same way without these drivers working through the night and driving huge distances to make sure people can get around safely. Despite this, TfL is creating unnecessary barriers for drivers to work, forcing them to spend more money and take on more stress at the height of a cost of living crisis. The rule change is pointless, racist, and will only see London’s transport infrastructure become weaker with more drivers unable to work.”

Interviews with drivers are available upon request. Click here to sign the petition.

For more information, please contact:
James Vail, Head of Communications
press@iwgb.co.uk