Workshop Examines Illegal Use of Private Vehicles to Transport Passengers for Fare and Calls for Tougher Penalties
Ramallah | Monday, August 17, 2026 – A specialized workshop discussed the phenomenon of private vehicles illegally transporting passengers for a fare, as part of efforts to regulate the transport sector, protect workers’ rights, and enhance public safety. The workshop was organized by the General Federation of Trade Unions of Palestine, with support from the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF).
The workshop was attended by Minister of Transport and Communications Dr. Mohammad Al-Ahmad, Minister of Labor Dr. Enas Al-Attari, Director General of Traffic at the Palestinian Police Brigadier General Mansour Daraghmeh, Secretary-General of the Union of Insurance Companies Kaid Miari, Secretary-General of the General Federation of Trade Unions of Palestine Shahir Saad, Head of the General Transport Workers’ Union Alaa Miasi, Head of the Bus Companies Owners’ Union Abdullah Al-Halou, Head of the Taxi Offices Owners’ Union Abu Al-Abd Nakhleh, as well as representatives of relevant institutions and public transport unions.
Minister of Transport and Communications Dr. Mohammad Al-Ahmad said the phenomenon poses a genuine challenge to the regulation of the transport sector. He noted that it exists in many countries around the world, but that curbing it depends on the effectiveness of legislation, oversight, and enforcement. He added that the current circumstances and the difficulty of controlling some areas had contributed to its expansion.
Al-Ahmad stressed the need to establish clear limits on such violations while simultaneously developing public transport and improving its services to make them more attractive to citizens. He proposed several measures, including updating legislation and increasing penalties, raising public awareness of the risks of illegal transport, and using electronic applications to document driver information and vehicle movements, in addition to protecting existing employment opportunities.
For her part, Minister of Labor Dr. Enas Al-Attari stressed the importance of addressing the phenomenon through an integrated approach that takes workers’ rights and labor-market regulation into account, while strengthening cooperation among government institutions, trade unions, and other relevant stakeholders.
Director General of Traffic Brigadier General Mansour Daraghmeh said the police had impounded 1,597 vehicles and recorded approximately 1,300 violations related to transporting passengers for a fare. He said the measures currently in place had not been sufficiently deterrent to put an end to the phenomenon, emphasizing the importance of developing practical and implementable recommendations.
On the insurance side, Secretary-General of the Union of Insurance Companies Kaid Miari explained that using private vehicles to transport passengers illegally could result in the insurance coverage being voided, leaving the driver and passenger to bear full responsibility. He stressed that the issue is directly linked to road and public safety, noting that road-accident compensation had reached approximately $240 million, while nearly 16,000 bodily injuries resulting from accidents were recorded during 2025.
Representatives of public transport unions likewise said that existing measures were no longer sufficiently deterrent. They called for the penalty system to be reviewed and strengthened, including the adoption of escalating penalties for repeat offenders. They also called for tighter monitoring of online groups and pages that engage in or promote illegal passenger transport.
They stressed that their demands aim to regulate the sector, protect drivers and passengers, and ensure fairness in law enforcement. They also affirmed their readiness to cooperate with the ministry and police in addressing the phenomenon and improving services.
Meanwhile, Secretary-General of the General Federation of Trade Unions of Palestine Shahir Saad said that illegal passenger transport exists worldwide and is addressed within clear legal frameworks. He pointed to the challenges facing the Palestinian labor market and stressed the importance of regulating the transport sector and protecting workers’ rights in accordance with international standards.
The workshop concluded with a discussion session attended by Deputy Minister of Transport and Communications Mohammad Hamdan, Director General of Traffic Brigadier General Mansour Daraghmeh, ministry staff, and representatives of the participating unions and institutions. The session focused on hearing their observations and proposals.
Participants concluded by calling for the launch of a media campaign to raise citizens’ awareness of the risks of illegal transport, as well as a campaign targeting public-transport drivers to improve services. They also called for strengthening the ministry’s role in drafting and amending legislation in consultation with relevant bodies, ensuring sufficiently deterrent penalties and tougher sanctions for repeat violations.
Additional recommendations included increasing penalties against violating drivers and their vehicles, developing public transport services, complying with applicable laws and regulations, and establishing a high-level follow-up committee to study developments and monitor implementation of the recommendations and required measures, with the aim of achieving tangible progress in addressing the phenomenon.
Participants emphasized that tougher measures are intended to curb the practice of transporting passengers for a fare in private vehicles, protect passengers and drivers, safeguard the licensed public transport sector, and strengthen the rule of law and fair competition, ultimately contributing to a safer, better regulated, and more sustainable transport sector.
