Bangkok: Supamas Isarabhakdi, Minister attached to the Prime Minister's Office, has summoned a major ride-hailing app company to a meeting tomorrow to discuss recent incidents involving driver assaults on tourists. This comes ahead of scheduled discussions with 13 other platforms on June 12th. The Minister is pushing for a complete overhaul of the system, emphasizing the need for public driver's licenses and prioritizing passenger safety.
According to Thai News Agency, the Minister commented on the case involving a driver from a popular app who assaulted a Japanese tourist in the Asoke area. The platform is widely used due to its competitive pricing. The Office of the Consumer Protection Board (OCPB) considers this a consumer rights violation, arguing that consumers are entitled to safe transport to their destinations. Representatives from the ride-hailing app met with OCPB officials at Thonglor Police Station, where they agreed to pay 35,000 baht in compensation. Despite this, the assault case is ongoing, with the platform set to pursue criminal charges in court today.
Ms. Supamas indicated that the Consumer Protection Board (CPB) plans to scrutinize various platforms, including online shopping and delivery services, alongside ride-hailing companies. Tomorrow's meeting will focus on the platform involved in the recent incident, while the broader meeting on June 12th will include 13 platforms from across Thailand.
The driver involved in the assault was a 23-year-old male lacking a public driver's license, raising concerns about the screening process for drivers. Ms. Supamas stressed the need to reevaluate the criteria for issuing public driver's licenses to ensure drivers are mature and capable of handling passenger safety responsibly.
Furthermore, Ms. Supamas emphasized the need to examine contractual measures to ensure fairness between platforms and consumers. The upcoming CPB meeting on June 12th will also address pricing fairness, as there are significant price differences among the 13 platforms. This review will be conducted in collaboration with other agencies.
On penalties, Ms. Supamas mentioned that a list of violations and corresponding penalties would be developed, requiring input from various agencies. Platforms would be held accountable for repeated offenses or negligence, with penalties enforced according to regulations and laws.
Addressing pricing competition among platforms, Ms. Supamas highlighted the need to find ways to reduce Gross Profit (GP) or platform fees if they are deemed unfair to the public. She stressed that while this may impact business profits, the primary government focus is on alleviating the high cost of living for citizens.
In addition to these discussions, the CPB meeting tomorrow will address over 500 Volvo car cases. Following the meeting, legal action will be initiated on behalf of consumers, with a focus on ensuring justice without mediation. Some victims are seeking refunds instead of battery replacements, underscoring the need for consumer satisfaction.