On Friday December 10th, the parliament of the Brussels Region gave the green light to the proposed transitional ordinance that would allow the Uber platform to resume work as of midnight on December 11th.
There were 51 votes in favor, 23 against and 12 abstentions. This proposal was initiated in a short time frame. It was drawn up over the weekend, after Uber decided to close the Uber X platform on November 26th, following a decision by the Brussels Court of Appeal that went against the company. This decision abruptly deprived hundreds of LVC (rent-a-car-with-driver) individuals of their full or part-time jobs.
This temporary solution is important for drivers and we are very pleased to welcome them back to our app from Saturday
Laurent Slits, Head of Uber Belgium
According to the Brussels Times, Uber will also have to meet some requirements. Uber must prove they have an office in Belgium that’s registered with the Crossroads Bank for Enterprises (Kruispuntbank van Ondernemingen), as well as providing Brussels Mobility with information about the drivers, the operators and the general conditions related to their work on the platform. They may not stop drivers from working for other platforms like Heetch. The platform must meet these requirements within ten days
The proposition called the “plaster ordinance”, was initially tabled by the three Flemish partners of the majority, and DĂ©FI, and supported by the MR and the cdH, but not by Ecolo and the PS – although they are members of the government.
The proposal, which is intended to help the drivers concerned to return to work temporarily and pending the entry into force of the broader reform of the taxi-LVC ordinance, has been substantially reworked to incorporate the content of the solution adopted by the Brussels government, partly based on the opinion of the Council of State.
It entered into force on Saturday December 11th and will remain in force until the 22nd of July, or even until the 22nd of October, if necessary. The Brussels government will decide if the overall reform of the taxi-LVC ordinance is delayed.
The temporary ordinance will allow LVC operators-drivers, deprived of access to the Uber X platform by the Uber company, to resume work in the Brussels Region.
