পর্তুগালে রাইড শেয়ারিং খাতে নতুন আইন চালুর পর উবার ও বোল্ট চালকদের জন্য পর্তুগিজ ভাষা জানা বাধ্যতামূলক হওয়ায় হাজার হাজার বাংলাদেশি অভিবাসী চালকThe new legislation, passed last Friday (July 17th) by the Portuguese parliament, has created significant challenges for the thousands of Bangladeshi drivers who rely on ride-sharing services like Uber and Bolt as their primary source of income in cities like Lisbon and Porto. Many of these drivers had come to Portugal seeking better economic opportunities and found stable employment through these platforms.

The new amendment, a joint effort by the Social Democratic Party and the right-wing Chega party, mandates that all ride-sharing drivers must now possess proficiency in the Portuguese language. Furthermore, the minimum driving training period has been extended to 50 hours, and drivers must achieve a score of at least 27 out of 30 in their final driving license examination. Passengers will also have the option to select drivers who are fluent in Portuguese through the app, potentially leaving drivers with limited language skills at a disadvantage.

To combat fraud, the new regulations also introduce provisions for permanent digital stickers on ride-sharing vehicles and enhance passenger safety with audio-less video recording capabilities. The immediate impact of these changes on the livelihoods of the Bangladeshi driver community in Portugal remains a significant concern.