CARRIER drivers in Labasa plan to go on strike over a recent change in their operating permits.
They claim the changes made under the new permits were implemented without proper consultation.
Labasa Carriers Association president Mukesh Chand said the changes had severely impacted their business.
“It’s made it very difficult for us to run our business,” he said, adding that some drivers have reported a significant loss of income.
“We used to be able to work at multiple locations, but now we’re stuck with a single route and it’s affecting our income.”
In an interview with this newspaper, Mr Chand said the drivers were demanding that the town authorities revisit their decision. It’s believed the planned strike could cause disruptions in transport services if the issue is not resolved soon.
“It seems like the previous administration understood our challenges better than this Government,” Mr Chand added.
In response, Land Transport Authority CEO Irimaia Rokosawa said the changes were made in line with the law.
“We have carefully considered the amendment to the Land Transport Act and have approved the licence carrier policy paper with a specific definition,” he said.
Mr Rokosawa said the changes were made to ensure fair market distribution and protect the operations of other public service vehicles.
He said the policy safeguarded those services from competition and promoted inclusive economic opportunities.
