Chicago, September 23
IANS
Over 20 percent of taxi drivers in Chicago are from
South Asia, the highest figure for all metro areas in the US.
There are also more doctors, engineers, scientists, accountants
and economists driving taxis in Chicago than in any other
US city, with the exception of Washington DC, a survey has found.
"These are highly qualified people but the qualifications
are different," said Jack Nichols, manager of Flash Cab
Company that operates 560 cabs.
"If they are doctors back in Pakistan, there are not necessarily
licensed to be a doctor here. If they are an accountant (in
their native country), accounting practices here are different."
In 1990, 34 percent of Chicago taxi drivers were foreign
born. By 2000, that figure had jumped to 59 percent.
"I'd say the biggest group in Chicago is Pakistani,"
said John Mohberg, president of the Checker Taxi Association
that has 1,200 cabs and 3,000 drivers. "Though right after
9/11 there was some apprehension among drivers, I've seen no
long-term effect."
Many immigrants turn to taxi driving when faced with difficulty
in getting their degrees recognised in the US, and in some cases
because of the language barrier, said Richard Kaye, a labour
economist with the Illinois Department of Employment Security.
Among them is Vijay Kalhon, who has a master's degree from
Delhi University.
He drives a cab owned by an Indian American but plans eventually
to get teacher certification.
"The best part is that I am my own boss and I can work
flexible hours," Kalhon said.
Kalhon prefers driving in Chicago downtown where there are
a large number of conventions, passengers easy to come by and
tips generous.
According to the Illinois Department of Employment Security,
the median income for a taxi driver is around $22,000 a year,
assuming a 40-hour workweek and 52 weeks a year.
But Kaye said: "In the taxi business, I would say a 40-hour
workweek is a definite understatement."
Mohammed Khan, another Indian American cab driver, said a better
estimate would be between $24,000 and $36,000 a year. "If
you are young and can work hard, you can make more.
"No one comes in and says, 'I am going to do this permanently,"
said Khan, "but the freedom of being by yourself catches
hold of you."
Nichols of Flash Cab agreed. "Everybody gets into this
as a temporary thing and most end up staying."
There was a perceptible decline in business following the post-9/11
economic decline but business has begun to pick up, Khan said.
But now cab drivers like him are facing another problem.
Khan said that fuel prices, taxes and other costs have increased
dramatically since the last fare increase in 2000. Khan and
fellow cabbies have petitioned the City of Chicago to hike fares.
A city official said it would be a few more months before officials
made a final decision. "They have made a compelling case,"
she said, noting that any increase would be tied to new regulations
mandating service improvements.
