TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC, 交通部) issued an apology on Thursday (Oct. 17) for hastily preparing a meeting to set reasonable delivery pricing guidelines, acknowledging insufficient time for stakeholders to prepare.
The ministry plans to send representatives to the Consumers' Foundation, Chinese Taipei (消基會) on Friday to discuss a new meeting schedule.
The ministry recently announced proposed amendments to the "Regulations for Automobile Transportation Operators" (汽車運輸業管理規則) and related pricing guidelines, allowing additional fees for waiting, floor levels, and night surcharges. This announcement sparked discussions and concerns among stakeholders.
The Consumers' Foundation criticized the ministry for its sudden demand to hold a draft explanatory meeting on Thursday, questioning whether it intended to exclude consumer representatives. The ministry canceled the meeting just 30 minutes before its start.
The MOTC's Highway Bureau expressed regret for the lack of communication buffer, which troubled the Consumers' Foundation and other entities, and promised ongoing dialogue with these groups.
The Highway Bureau plans to reschedule the meeting soon. It aims to obtain comprehensive input from delivery operators, consumer representatives, and experts to improve the delivery pricing mechanism.
The agency noted that once the regulations are amended, a fare review process will follow, involving local associations and unions to address regional cost differences.
A tripartite platform involving the Consumers' Foundation, delivery platforms, and delivery workers' unions is in the works, with local government participation to ensure consumer rights are protected.
