Uber banned in Colombia following taxi union lawsuit

On 1 February, the world’s largest mobile-app based ride-hailing company Uber will be prohibited from operating in Colombia (with the exception of its food delivery platform UberEats), the first national mandate of its kind in Latin America.

Following a lawsuit filed by local taxi union Cotech claiming Uber to be “dishonest” and receiving an “illegal” competitive advantage, Colombia’s Superintendence of Industry and Commerce has decided to prohibit the app-based company based on “unfair” operations.

According to Uber spokesperson Daniela Puerta, “the decision is against the Colombian legal framework and it violates due process and constitutional rights,” reported local news service Latin America Reports.

Although Uber has also faced legal battles in Mexico, Brazil and Argentina, it is still operating in these countries. As such, it is unlikely that we have heard the last of Uber in Colombia.

The company employs about 88,000 people which serve approximately 2 million customers in the country.