A taxi driver said operating costs, including fuel and parts, have also increased, adding that operators must work hard to prevent customers from turning away because of the higher fares. The government, which approved the fare increase, has instructed operators to allocate 70% of the additional revenue to higher wages for drivers in an effort to address the severe labor shortage. The added income will also be used to offset soaring fuel costs. Last month, taxi fares were also raised in Tokyo's Tama area as well as in Saitama and Chiba prefectures, indicating that fare hikes are spreading nationwide.