Bolt and Uber Drivers Launch New Strike in Prague

Drivers working for Bolt and Uber have launched a new strike in the Czech capital, repeating a protest held just a week ago.

On that occasion, hundreds of drivers refused to accept rides, causing longer wait times and leaving many users without available cars.

This Monday, the protest has grown in scale and coordination, with two separate driver groups participating in different ways.

The first group, organized by the Lucky Taxi Association, began their strike at 4:00 a.m., planning to end it at 12:00 noon. Their specific demands have been made available through their official channels.

Meanwhile, a second group of drivers has launched a full 24-hour strike, starting at 6:00 a.m. Monday and running until 6:00 a.m. Tuesday.

This protest includes a public demonstration officially registered with Prague City Hall. Organizers expect between 500 and 1,000 vehicles to gather in the parking lot outside the Tesco hypermarket in Letňany between 10:00 and 11:30 a.m.

At 12:00 p.m., the group plans to drive in a slow-moving convoy through the city center, ending in Čestlice, a suburb southeast of Prague.

Drivers Demand Fairer Conditions

“We, taxi drivers in Prague, are dissatisfied with the current working conditions and demand immediate changes,” the group wrote in a statement distributed to media outlets.

They cite a drop in fares by 25–30% over the past three years, even as the cost of fuel, insurance, car maintenance, and housing continues to rise.

Meanwhile, Uber and Bolt continue to charge drivers commissions of up to 35%, the group claims, without paying taxes in the Czech Republic. Drivers are forced to operate as independent contractors under IČO licenses, making them responsible for 21% VAT payments on top of operating expenses.

The drivers’ key demands include:

• Setting the official fare levels established by Prague City Hall:

  • Base fare: 60 CZK

  • Per kilometer: 36 CZK

  • Per minute of waiting: 7 CZK

• Reducing commissions from 25–35% down to 15–20%.

• Introducing a flexible commission system where fees decrease based on the number of completed trips.

• Mandatory registration of Uber and Bolt with Czech trade licenses and VAT obligations.

• Removing Bolt’s “Economy” tier, which drivers argue makes their work financially unsustainable.

“If our demands are not heard, we will escalate our protest with a two-day strike on April 20–21,” the organizers warned. “We remain open to dialogue and await an official response.”

Would you like us to write about your business? Find out more