The new law, which takes effect on Monday, excludes drivers without a Polish driver’s license or those who have lived in the country for less than 185 days.
Polish authorities implemented the revised transport law to enhance safety and ensure better regulation of the ride-hailing industry. The changes have led to significant upheaval, with platforms removing drivers late into the night on Sunday to comply with the new rules.
According to the infrastructure ministry, the purpose of implementing this solution is to enhance the safety of passengers and prevent unqualified drivers from providing commercial transportation services with passenger cars and cabs.
Ridesharing executives warn of service disruptions
Marcin Moczyróg, Uber’s General Manager for Central and Eastern Europe, reported that over a quarter of Bolt’s drivers, 15% of FreeNow’s drivers, and nearly 20% of Uber’s drivers were removed from their platforms. Moczyróg warns that these numbers are expected to grow weekly as verification processes continue.
Furthermore, Krzysztof Kowalski, President of the fleet company Eternis, predicts severe service disruptions in the upcoming months.
He explained that the industry typically experiences a lull in orders during the summer, but the surge in demand in the fall could lead to a shortage of drivers. Kowalski highlighted the challenge, stating that with fewer drivers available, meeting the increased demand will be nearly impossible.
Krzysztof Urban, head of FreeNow in Poland, assured customers that the company is striving to minimize the impact on passengers. However, he acknowledged that the real test would come after the summer, when demand typically rises.
Urban mentioned that, while FreeNow has managed to maintain service levels so far, the upcoming busy season will be challenging.
A balanced approach
Amid the confusion, Uber has taken a different approach. The company has ceased allowing new drivers without a Polish license to join the platform since June 17.
However, they continue to permit existing drivers to operate during a three-month transition period, giving them until September 17 to meet the new requirements.
Moczyróg pointed out that this measure is compliant with the law and necessary to ensure uninterrupted service for customers.
New migration strategy in the works
The introduction of these regulations underscores the broader reliance on foreign labor in various sectors of the Polish economy.
According to a report by the Polish Economic Institute, foreign workers are crucial in industries suffering from labor shortages, such as hospitality, construction, and logistics.
The study revealed that almost half of the hospitality sector relies on foreign employees, as do over a third of the construction and transportation sectors.
Data from Poland’s Social Insurance Institution (ZUS) shows that the number of legally employed foreigners in Poland hit a new record in April, surpassing 1.14 million people. Two-thirds are Ukrainians, and the number of workers from Asia and Latin America is rapidly increasing.
The future influx of foreigners will be shaped by a migration strategy coordinated by the Ministry of the Interior and Administration.
“We are currently at the diagnosis stage, including a survey of thousands of stakeholders,” says Maciej Duszczyk, the Deputy Minister responsible for migration policy. The first draft of the document is expected by mid-October.
