By Zoie O'brien For Mailonline
Published: 08:23 GMT, 1 March 2019 | Updated: 09:00 GMT, 1 March 2019
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Drivers from private hire firms including Uber have accused London Mayor Sadiq Khan of discrimination towards ethnic minority workers over the anti-pollution congestion charge.
A group taking legal action says the £11.50 charge is discriminatory since 94% of them are from black, Asian and other minority ethnic backgrounds.
The basis for their claim is that 'black cab' licensed taxis will remain exempt from the charge.
One Uber employee called it a 'tax on poor drivers'.
There is currently a major drive to cut congestion and air pollution and as a result as of 8 April, private hire vehicle drivers will have to pay the £11.50 daily congestion charge to drive in central London.
The Mayor's office said the rise in private hire vehicles on London's streets will not be ignored. In the past decade the number of private hire drivers has rocketed from 59,000 to 114,000. There are now 1,000 fewer black cab drivers in the same period.
London now has roughly 114,000 private hire (PHV) drivers, who are overwhelmingly from black, Asian and other minority ethnic backgrounds.