Tuzla taxi drivers protest demanding relief from rising operating costs

On July 31, taxi drivers in Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina, staged a peaceful protest, gathering hundreds of vehicles on city streets to highlight long‑standing problems in the sector. They warned that operating expenses – fuel, vehicle purchase, spare parts and maintenance – have risen sharply, while taxi fares have only increased marginally, threatening the livelihood of hundreds of families.

The drivers, representing 321 licensed taxis, appealed to the Tuzla municipal authorities and the cantonal government for concrete measures: a halt to issuing new taxi licences, the ability to transfer licences from legal entities to individuals, revisions to the “two‑for‑one” regulation, creation of a transparent database and new taxi stands, and the introduction of subsidies for taxi operators. They emphasized that they regularly pay taxes and contributions and have held multiple meetings with city and canton officials without receiving satisfactory solutions.