Language Test for Taxi Drivers: Czech Cities Could Decide for Themselves

Municipalities in the Czech Republic could in future decide for themselves what language and local knowledge taxi drivers must demonstrate. The Chamber of Deputies has now set the legal framework for this.

The number of taxi drivers in the Czech Republic has risen significantly over the past ten years – particularly in Prague. According to current estimates, there are now up to 16,000 drivers operating in the capital. One major reason is the growth of alternative ride-hailing services, which has also brought many foreign drivers onto the market.

Cities and municipalities in the Czech Republic are therefore set to be able to impose stricter requirements on taxi drivers themselves in future. The Chamber of Deputies has approved a legislative amendment that would allow municipalities, among other things, to introduce tests in Czech or on local knowledge.

The provision was added as an amendment proposed by two Prague MPs from ANO to an amendment to the Road Traffic Act. The Chamber of Deputies passed the proposal in its third reading on 23 September. The Senate must now consider the legislation.

Under the proposal, cities and municipalities could stipulate by decree that taxi drivers must demonstrate certain knowledge before providing their services within the respective municipality. In the case of a language test, the required level of Czech would be limited to the knowledge necessary to work as a taxi driver.

The municipalities themselves could determine the specific requirements and organisation of the tests. If the relevant regulations differed significantly between individual cities or raised legal questions, the Ministry of the Interior would be responsible for reviewing them.

A total of 92 MPs voted in favour of the amendment. In addition to supporters from the governing parties, the Pirates also backed the proposal. Critics from the opposition warned during the debate of additional regulation and potentially higher taxi fares.

The Pirates had submitted a further proposal that would have required drivers to demonstrate not only the Czech-language skills necessary for providing transport services, but also a knowledge of English. This would have taken particular account of the large number of international tourists in Prague. Transport Minister Ivan Bednárik, however, pointed to substantive and legislative drafting problems. Following the adoption of the original amendment, the proposal was therefore not put to a vote.

The newly approved regulation is intended primarily to improve communication between passengers and taxi drivers, as well as safety during journeys. Whether cities and municipalities actually make use of the new option would be up to them. First, however, the legislative amendment still has to pass the Senate.