A heartbreaking video has shown a Glasgow taxi driver begging for support from the Scottish Government and Glasgow City Council after making just £18.60 in an eight-and-a-half hour shift.
Harry McKean says his livelihood is on the line amid the latest coronavirus lockdown.
In a video shared by Unite union, Harry said he'd have to have a serious conversation with his wife about handing the taxi back and finding an 'unlikely' new job.
He slammed the lack of financial aid taxi drivers 'needed last year and even more now', reports Glasgow Live.
And in an impassioned plea, the Glaswegian hit out at grants not being made available to taxi drivers because they have no fixed premises - a criteria branded by Unite as 'deeply unfair'.
Speaking from his cab, he said: "Nearly three hours now I've been out, not one hire. Yesterday I did an eight-and-a-half shift and recorded £18.60 earnings.
"I'm now going to go home and discuss with the wife what way we go forward. Do we hand the taxi back? Do I try and get another job, which would seem highly unlikely.
"We needed help last year and we still need it even more now.
"This Scottish administration have not put their hand in their pocket once to help us out. The only help we've received is from the Westminster Chancellor, Mr (Rishi) Sunak. Whilst it's been a great help, it's not been enough. We need more.
"I know there are other people out there people needing the same, but we're not a fixed premise, we can't apply for those grants. We still have fixed costs - I have fixed costs of about £1,000 a month, between taxi payments, insurance and running costs.
"Do I decide to give that up, go into another job or go into arrears with other payments? We don't know how we're going to go.
"So I'm asking, I'm now begging for somebody, somewhere within Holyrood, local council, anywhere, to start looking at this seriously and get us some kind of serious grant.
"Because we can't afford any more loans, we don't have the earning capacity to pay for them and even further down the line we're just going to run up debt that we can't afford or people just can't afford to give us the credit these days.
"I'm begging you councillors, you MSPs out there, take a serious look at this industry and get some help out there because we have fixed costs, like business owners with fixed premises do as well."
After sharing Harry's video, Unite told Glasgow Live they have demanded Glasgow City Council provide support by extending licences and suspending testing, both of which drivers 'simply cannot afford'.
A spokesperson said: "Taxi businesses are locked out of funding through the Strategic Framework Business Fund. Sole criterion of having a business premises is arbitrary and deeply unfair as Harry alludes to.
"We have also asked GCC to extend all licences by three months and suspend testing. Along with the obvious health and safety risks, we have members contacting us to say they simply cannot afford testing or licence fees."
In response a Glasgow City Council spokesperson said they are continuing to explore options to support the city's taxi drivers, while also ensuring public safety.
They said: "We have implemented a wide range of measures in support of the taxi trade at this extremely difficult time.
"But we are keeping this situation under regular review and will continue to look for further changes that can ease the pressure currently being felt by licence holders.
"As a regulatory authority, we must remain focused on public safety at all times."
And the Scottish Government says work is ongoing to provide a one-off payment for eligible taxi drivers later this month.
A spokesperson confirmed: “We understand how difficult this pandemic has been for taxi drivers and their families, which is why on 9 December the Finance Secretary announced a further financial package of £185 million to support businesses and the economy in the New Year, including £19 million to support taxi drivers.
“The Scottish Government is working closely with local authorities and representative organisations in developing these funds and further details will be announced shortly. We expect that eligible taxi drivers will be able to apply for this one-off payment later this month.”
