A minicab driver has revealed he has to work up to 100 hours a week to make the same wage as he used to amid skyrocketing costs. Khalid Edah-Tally, 34, has been a driver for Addison Lee in London for 12 years but is finding that he increasingly has to do longer shifts to cover his costs. He told the Standard drivers in the capital are being pushed to “breaking point” with some having to stretch their night shifts until 8am or 9am in the morning - making it less safe for passengers and other drivers.
Mr Edah-Tally said: “It’s incredibly hard to make a living. The salaries have remained the same while everything else has gone up. “The cost of living has gone up, and the cost of working has gone up. For the taxi drivers, there’s fuel, insurance, parking. All of these things have gone up dramatically in the last five or ten years. “When you used to work 30 or 40 hours a week you’re now working 70 or 80 sometimes even 100 hours a week to make the same money.”.
He added: “Drivers are pushing themselves more and more. They are working longer hours which makes it unsafe on the roads. “We have seen an increase in accidents in private hire vehicles as drivers are just pushing more and more hours because they can’t go home without earning a fair salary.”. The minicab driver, who grew up in Finchley, is one of hundreds of drivers across the country taking part in protests against poor pay and difficult working conditions.
Drivers will take part in a six-hour strike over pay and the ‘brutally long hours’ needed to make ends meet on Valentine’s Day. Drivers have complained about earning under £1 a mile for some jobs and have raised concerns about how anyone can get into their cabs. “The apps tell you about flexibility,” Mr Edah-Tally explained. “That’s their big selling point - that you can pick the hours you work.
“But because the pay is so low and it’s constantly falling if you used to work night shifts and you finish at 6am you’re now finishing at 8am, 9am or 10am in the morning. You are constantly working.”. Serious concerns have also been raised about the safety of drivers. Many are concerned that there are no safety measures in place in case something happens to a driver. It can feel like rolling a dice knowing who is about to get into a cab, Mr Edah-Tally explained, adding that you can feel “constantly fearful” when driving.
He recounted five incidents where drivers he knew had been assaulted while working and highlighted that four years ago Gabriel Bringye was killed by a passenger in Tottenham in February 2021 while he was driving for Bolt. “There’s no method for complaining or getting justice for whatever happens in the car,” he added. “It’s basically your word against theirs. “Uber, Bolt, FreeNow, Addison Lee. All of these companies take the side of the passenger. There have been numerous passengers assaulted on the road.
“You shouldn’t feel unsafe when you go to work. That is a key human right no matter what you do.”. A demonstration and motorcade are expected to take place outside London’s City Hall for six hours on Friday evening between 4pm and 10pm. Organisers hope the action, taking place on a usually busy night for drivers, will be an “important step” in the fight against low pay and insecure conditions.z.
A survey organised by Bolt found that a quarter of drivers said they earn at least £4,000 per month through driving. A Bolt spokesperson said: “We recognise the vital role drivers play in keeping cities moving, and remain committed to ensuring our prices balance the earning needs of drivers with affordability for passengers. “We are the only operator that enables drivers to set their own minimum pricing and also take advantage of dynamic pricing, where fares are based on market conditions.
“All drivers receive holiday pay and monetary supplements to ensure they earn at least the national living wage, alongside a pension. Feedback is important to us, and we continue to engage with drivers directly through surveys, community events, and in-person forums.". An Addison Lee spokesperson added: “We have a close working relationship with our drivers, which was further reinforced in our recent bi-annual driver satisfaction survey. We do not expect to see any disruption to volumes or service levels on February 14th.”.
