October 5th News from Kuaitech. Recently， a netizen proposed a suggestion that taxi drivers should be able to understand Cantonese and English， and also pass CET-4 (College English Test Band 4)， which has sparked heated discussions among netizens.
According to domestic media reports， the Guangzhou Municipal Transportation Bureau released the “Explanation on the Adoption of Public Opinions on the Draft for Comments on the Vehicle Appearance and Driver Service Standards for Taxis in Guangzhou City” on its official website (hereinafter referred to as the “Explanation”).
Some citizens suggested that taxi drivers must understand Cantonese and English， hold a CET-4 certificate or above， and obtain a national tour guide qualification certificate.
In response， the Guangzhou Municipal Transportation Bureau did not adopt these suggestions， stating that there are currently no relevant laws， regulations， or policies that require drivers to hold a CET-4 certificate or above， nor do they require them to obtain a national tour guide qualification certificate， which also does not comply with the relevant provisions of the Administrative Licensing Law.
The “Explanation” pointed out that the opinions suggesting that taxi drivers must understand Cantonese and English， hold a CET-4 certificate or above， and obtain a national tour guide qualification certificate to prove their corresponding service capabilities were not adopted.
The main reasons are: there are currently no relevant laws， regulations， or policies that require drivers to hold a CET-4 certificate or above， nor do they require them to obtain a national tour guide qualification certificate， which also does not comply with the relevant provisions of the Administrative Licensing Law; the “Service Standards” already require drivers to flexibly use Mandarin， Cantonese， or simple daily English conversations according to passengers from different regions.
Analysis: This proposal， while seemingly aimed at improving service for a diverse clientele， highlights a common debate in public service: setting practical and legally sound requirements versus striving for ideal service standards. The official response underscores the importance of aligning service expectations with existing legal frameworks and the practical feasibility of such stringent requirements for a large workforce. While proficiency in multiple languages and tourism knowledge would undoubtedly enhance the experience for some， mandating such qualifications could impose undue burdens on drivers and potentially impact the availability and cost of taxi services. The current approach of encouraging flexible communication skills suggests a more balanced strategy， prioritizing essential communication while acknowledging the practical limitations of widespread mandatory certification for such specialized skills.
The official response indicates a pragmatic approach. The Guangzhou Municipal Transportation Bureau’s decision not to enforce the suggested requirements stems from a lack of legal basis and potential conflicts with administrative licensing laws. This suggests that while enhanced language skills and qualifications are beneficial， they cannot be arbitrarily imposed without proper legal backing or a clear demonstration of necessity that outweighs the practical challenges. The bureau’s acknowledgement of existing requirements for flexible communication in Mandarin， Cantonese， or simple English demonstrates a commitment to addressing the needs of diverse passengers within a feasible framework.
