Mini-bus drivers claimed yesterday that their livelihoods are being “stolen” by route bus drivers and third parties, some of whom are registered unemployed.

Co-op Services Ltd made the claims yesterday in a judicial protest filed against the Malta Transport Authority (ADT), the Roads and Urban Development Ministry, the Malta Tourism Authority (MTA) and the Motor Insurance Pool.

Co-op Services Ltd, popularly known as the red mini-bus cooperative, said it represents some 80 per cent of minibus owners and operators in Malta and Gozo.

They say that one of their major sources of income is that of ferrying foreign English language students around during the summer months.

The complainants said that much of their regular business was being “stolen” by route buses which, they claim, is abusive and illegal.

The complainants pointed out that they actually pay an annual fee to the MTA and bus drivers do not, yet they still take students – who are regular tourists at the end of the day – on private trips.

In addition, said the co-op, not only were they breaking the law, but they were also competing unfairly because bus drivers already serve the subsidised and guaranteed routes and all their expenses are subsidised by the government.

Moreover, they said that they also had to compete against other third parties who illegally engage in ferrying students around in their own private vehicles – some of them registering as unemployed at the same time.

The complainants said they had made repeated reports to ADT and the ministry – and this simply showed that neither one nor the other had the legislative or enforcement tools to address the situation.

Meanwhile, the co-op said that in the context of the above, it still had to deal with exaggerated insurance policy premia for its members as quoted by the Motor Insurance Pool. It said that last year, the pool had requested a 31 per cent price hike, but this had been reduced to 15 per cent after the Malta Financial Services Authority intervened. This year, the pool requested a nine per cent increase, but this was revised to two per cent, again after intervention by the MFSA.

The complainants said that their aim had always been to obtain autonomy from the pool when it came to insurance policies. The current practice of tying the mini bus owners to this system was antiquated and made no sense in a country that was in the free market of the European Union, said the co-op.

The co-op said that it would not tolerate the situation any longer and would use all possible avenues of remedy, including recourse to the various European Union entities. It therefore appealed for all defendants to sort out the situation and take the necessary action to ensure a level playing field for all concerned.

Dr Chris Cilia signed the protest on behalf of the complainants.