Uruguay: Proposed law goes after Uber

Uruguay’s Broad Front coalition this week backed a proposed law which would ban the operation of ride-sharing app Uber for a 1-year period. The stated purpose of the law, official sources said, would be to provide time to properly determine how the service should be regulated.

Felipe Carballo, lead author of the bill and member fo the Broad Front’s left wing, explained that the reason for his proposal is that the US-based company had “overnight” begun operations in the country, presumably in violation of Uruguay’s existing regulation.

Uber, which started operating in Uruguay on November 19th, has faced harsh opposition from Uruguay’s public transportation industry, with complaints revolving around their lack of regulation and alleged unfair competition.

“It’s a very negative development, for Uber to have gone for the ‘done deed’ route, as if this country was a no-man’s land, where anyone may do as they please”, commented Deputy Caballo, while also admitting that the sense of “dissatisfaction” with Montevideo’s taxi fleet is “fairly evident”.

Source: Hoy

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