Taxi drivers staged protests in Nicosia on Tuesday morning, before driving in convoy to key government buildings to demand action over what they describe as illegal competition and worsening conditions in the sector.

Drivers assembled at the GSP stadium before moving towards the transport ministry, parliament and onwards to the presidential palace.

Their first stop was the transport ministry shortly after 9am, where drivers expressed anger after learning that Transport Minister Alexis Vafeades had left the building shortly before their arrival.

“Once again, the minister has left, he did not stand up to face our colleagues, to explain to them what the solutions are that we have been trying to find for years regarding piracy,” said taxi union Poat president Konstantinos Konstantinou.

“He fled and we are very disappointed, it shows the seriousness with which this ministry is dealing with us.”

Nicosia taxi representative Pambos Avgoustinos also criticised the absence, saying respect had to be earned.

“This man seemed so cowardly, we have no respect for him”.

Drivers from other districts echoed the complaints, accusing authorities of showing “great indifference” to the profession.

At parliament, drivers delivered a memorandum and held discussions with transport committee chairman Alecos Tryfonides, who said the issue of illegal taxi operations had been examined since the beginning of the committee’s current term.

He said a broader reform of the taxi sector was expected to be presented in June but stressed that interim measures were needed sooner.

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He said the committee had requested tougher measures including increased fines and the gradual confiscation of licences, vehicles and driving permits for offenders.

“Even if fines increase, they pile up there and no one pays, with the result that piracy not only does not decrease but increases,” he said.

The final stop of the convoy was the presidential palace, where drivers handed a memorandum to senior administrative officer Irene Andreou for delivery to President Nikos Christodoulides.

Konstantinou described unlicensed operators as “the cancer in this sector”, alleging that individuals, websites and certain transport services were operating outside the law while licensed drivers carried the tax burden.

“Taxi drivers work from dawn till dusk to earn a living wage, they pay social security, VAT, income tax, everything,” he said.

“The others work without taxi licences, with private vehicles, illegally, without insurance and without a criminal record check.”

Taxi drivers insisted they would continue their mobilisation until enforcement improves and legislation protecting licensed operators is implemented.

The strike was organised after the taxi drivers union issued an ultimatum to authorities last week demanding written responses and legislative proposals to address grievances within three working days.

Drivers warned that failure to respond would lead to “dynamic and sustained” strike action and said authorities would bear responsibility for any disruption caused to transport, tourism and the wider economy.

“Our tolerance, patience and good faith have run out,” professional drivers said in a letter sent to several state bodies.

The central complaint concerns the activity of private vehicles operating as unlicensed “pirate” taxis, which drivers say are taking passengers without permits and soliciting fares in squares, ports, airports and other public areas.

They also raised concerns about the operation of certain transport applications, arguing that some platforms undermine the legal status of licensed urban taxis and create unfair competition.

Drivers further criticised what they described as weak enforcement of existing regulations and called for stronger inspections and greater powers for supervisors at the road transport department.

Rising operating costs were also highlighted as a major pressure on the sector.

“The sector has been brought to its knees by unbearable operating costs, due to the pirates who have taken a large percentage of the pie that is ours,” the drivers said.

Drivers are also calling for better organisation of taxi parking areas at Larnaca and Paphos airport, as well as permission to use bus lanes at departure areas to improve passenger service.