In Saint Petersburg, the migrant ban increased taxi prices

On the very day the ban on migrants engaging in taxi driving activities was introduced in Saint Petersburg, taxi prices rose significantly. This was reported by Zamin.uz.

According to the local publication “Fontanka.ru,” prices increased by up to 30 percent on some routes. Journalists analyzed prices on various routes in the city under the “Comfort” tariff in the “Yandex Taxi” app on November 6 and 7.

The analysis showed that on November 7, the day the ban came into effect, prices on some routes increased by between 3.2 percent and 32.5 percent. Additionally, many users reported that when trying to order a taxi, the app informed them of a shortage of drivers and longer waiting times.

This situation has caused additional inconvenience for the city’s residents. According to the “Yandex Taxi” administration, the number of taxi drivers operating in the city has decreased by 12 percent due to the new restrictions.

This has led to approximately 4,000 drivers losing their jobs. Experts believe this change will further exacerbate the shortage of personnel in the sector.

According to Governor Aleksandr Beglov’s decision in August, migrants are prohibited not only from taxi driving but also from courier activities. Officials explained this measure as a fight against informal employment and an effort to increase safety in the service sector.

Local economists believe this decision may reduce competition in taxi services and lead to further price increases. As a result, for many residents, a simple taxi service is becoming an expensive service.