Colombia orders Uber to suspend application services

Colombia orders Uber to suspend application services

BOGOTA: Uber was told to immediately stop its shared transportation services in Colombia, announced industry and commerce on Friday, citing unfair competition laws.

The American tech giant has around two million active users in the country and around 88,000 drivers.

The ruling, which is subject to appeal, follows a lawsuit by a group of taxi drivers who accuse the company of unfair commercial practices.

The head of the Department of Industry and Commerce, which regulates the market, said the company should immediately stop operating, citing "unfair competition" and a "significant advantage" over traditional and traditional taxi services.

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The "effects (of the measure) are realized immediately", they added.

In a statement, the American firm repented and rejected the ruling, which "immediately appealed".

While the Ministry of Information Technology and Communications has allowed Uber to operate in Colombia and consequently pays taxes, the use of drivers for passenger transport is illegal and the police can sanction drivers who use the application.

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Uber, founded in 2009, arrived in Colombia in 2013, but taxi owners and unions have repeatedly protested in the streets against Uber and similar competitors, who claim to have stolen their jobs.

Protests have also been organized in other cities, where pressure has even led to the withdrawal of these demands. For example, Uber does not operate in Catalonia, Bulgaria, Hungary, Denmark and northern Australia.