FTTU: The Law on Public Transport contains positive ideas but poses serious social and systemic risks

The Federation of Transport and Trade Unions notes that the draft Public Transport Act contains a number of positive elements aimed at systematizing the framework, clearer planning, and regulation of public passenger transport, as well as compliance with the European legal framework. During public consultations, some of FTTU's proposals were formally reflected, including regarding the admissibility of direct assignment and the possibility for on-demand transport to be carried out by an internal operator.

Nevertheless, the Federation has criticisms that were reflected in several proposals and opinions to the Ministry of Transport and Communications, including to the National Assembly, as the bill, in its current form, contains substantial deficits that cast doubt on the sustainability and social legitimacy of the proposed reform.

• Risks in the assignment of public transport:
  Although direct assignment is formally allowed, the bill continues to treat it as an exception, rather than an equitable mechanism in regard to the procedures under the Public Procurement Act and the Concessions Act. This creates legal uncertainty and a real risk that municipalities will be pushed towards market and concession models, even when they have their own municipal operators. Such an approach contradicts the philosophy of Regulation (EC) No 1370/2007 and threatens the sustainability of municipal public transport.

  
  

• On-demand transport – social service or market model:
  FTTU expresses serious concerns that the regulation of on-demand transport may open the door to the entry of private platforms and fragmentation of the system instead of serving as a social tool to ensure access to transport. On-demand transport should be clearly regulated as a social service, aimed at areas without transport connectivity, rather than as a business opportunity at the expense of municipal operators.

  
  

• Transport poverty remains outside the focus of the law
  The draft completely lacks a conceptual approach to the problem of so-called "transport poverty." The law does not contain clear goals, criteria, or commitments to ensure minimal transport service for residents of small and remote areas, the elderly, people with disabilities, and socially vulnerable groups. This is a serious omission, as public transport is a service of general economic interest and a key factor for social inclusion, access to work, education, and healthcare.

  
  

• Lack of real social dialogue and excessive centralization
  The bill has been drafted with a serious deficit of social dialogue, and the proposed extended powers of the minister are not accompanied by sufficient guarantees for the participation of social partners and municipalities in the development of standards and model contracts.

The position of FTTU is clear: The Public Transport Act needs to be reworked after real social dialogue, within the framework of the National Council for Tripartite Cooperation – Transport Sectoral Council format, with clearly defined social guarantees, equitable models of assignment, and explicit recognition of the social function of public transport.

The Federation of Transport and Trade Unions will continue to actively defend the rights of workers in the sector and the public interest of citizens because sustainable transport cannot exist without social responsibility.