The Fiji Taxi Association is calling for a fare increase, saying rising fuel prices and the growing number of illegal operators are putting significant financial pressure on them.
President Mohammad Faiyaz says the current flagfall rate is $2, while the waiting charge remains at 10 cents.
He says the Association is seeking an increase in the waiting charge to 15 cents and submission has been made to the Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission.
The President says taxi operators have been struggling with increasing operating costs for years, even before the current fuel price increases.
Faiyaz says illegal operators are taking at least 30 percent of the taxi industry's income.
Faiyaz says more than 30 percent of a driver's daily earnings can now be spent on fuel, while vehicle owners must also cover loan repayments, maintenance costs, insurance and other operational expenses.
The President says taxi operators have not received a fare increase since 2010.
He says the FCCC requires financial information from at least 50 percent of taxi operators before considering a fare review.
However, Faiyaz says much of that information is already with the Fiji Revenue and Customs Service via operators' tax filings.
He is calling on the Government to involve the FRCS and the Land Transport Authority in the fare review process.
Insert: Faiyaz on enforcement 4th June
Meanwhile, the LTA says it continues to take a proactive approach through targeted enforcement activities.
The Authority says illegal taxi operations are difficult to quantify accurately because the operators function outside the regulated transport system.
We have also requested the LTA to provide data on enforcement actions, inspections, warnings issued and fines imposed on illegal operators.
