Reduced number of legal taxi drivers in Belarus: Reasons explained
Deadline Approaching for Belarus Taxi Drivers: Complete Qualification Improvement by August 31
In a bid to improve traffic conditions and ensure safer rides, the Ministry of Transport and Communications in Belarus has set a deadline for taxi drivers to complete their qualification improvement programs. All drivers must complete this training by August 31, 2025.
To comply with the deadline, drivers should enroll in accredited qualification improvement programs. These programs typically cover safety, regulations, and customer service, and upon completion, drivers receive certification recognized by Belarusian transport authorities.
The Ministry has provided recommendations on how to find these programs. Lists of organizations offering qualification improvement services for categories B and D can usually be found through the Belarus Ministry of Transport or local regulatory bodies responsible for driver certification. Additionally, professional driver training centers, automotive institutes, or government-approved driving schools in Belarus offer such courses. Checking official transport department websites or contacting industry associations in Belarus can provide the most up-to-date approved organizations.
It's worth noting that more than 60 organizations in Belarus provide driver qualification improvement services for category B, and more than 35 companies are engaged in retraining for category D. There are also sufficient free places for driver qualification improvement training for more than 5500 category B drivers and more than 1000 category D drivers per month.
For carriers, if they have the right to submit an application for inclusion in the Register of Automobile Passenger Transport with driver information without a certificate of qualification improvement, they are obliged to ensure driver qualification improvement by August 31, 2025. Failure to do so could result in having their driver's information suspended in the register.
In addition, the Ministry has warned that the exclusion of nearly 1700 taxi drivers from the Register of Passenger Carriers could potentially improve traffic conditions. The Ministry also emphasized that passenger transportation in the taxi sector is not considered a socially significant good, allowing carriers to set tariffs independently.
However, carriers are expected to declare the cost of the trip outside the city, booking, waiting time, etc., to ensure transparency and fair pricing. The driver's and carrier's name, location, and contact phone numbers must also be displayed in the car salon.
Changes to the driver's information in the register must be made within 15 calendar days after the end of the qualification improvement period, no later than September 15, 2025.
For more information, drivers and carriers are encouraged to visit the Ministry of Transport's website, where a full list of companies providing driver qualification improvement services can be found.
To meet the deadline set by the Ministry of Transport and Communications, taxi drivers should seek services from accredited organizations offering qualification improvement programs, as these typically cover necessary knowledge in safety, regulations, and customer service. The finance sector may also be instrumental in funding these qualification programs to ensure that drivers meet the August 31, 2025 deadline, contributing positively to the state of the transportation industry in Belarus.
In an effort to stay informed about updated approved organizations and programs, drivers and carriers are advised to visit the Ministry of Transport's website regularly, making it crucial for the finance and technology industries to maintain up-to-date resources on the Ministries website for a seamless experience.
