Transport ministry inspectors have raised the fine payable by taxi company Uber for breaking taxi sector rules to a maximum of €1m, RTL news reports on Tuesday.

Every time drivers for the Uberpop service are caught, the company will have to pay €50,000, the inspectors have decided. Uberpop is an online platform which helps members of the public act as taxi drivers without a licence.

The drivers themselves can be fined up to €4,200 and are given a criminal record.

Junior transport minister Wilma Mansveld said earlier this month she plans to overhaul the taxi laws to make it easier for new players to enter the market.