According to the Associação Movimento Nacional – TVDE, the protest of partners and drivers of private passenger transport in unmarked vehicles, who took to the streets this Friday demanding better working conditions, enjoys “strong support”.
In a conversation with Lusa this morning, the newly elected president of the association, Vitor Soares, mentioned, without specifying, that the protest “brought together many” drivers and partners in Amoreiras, in Lisbon, in front of the Uber headquarters, from where they left until the Avenida da Liberdade to remain there about 24 hours until Saturday morning.
Vitor Soares explained that the association has provided institutional support for the demonstration, which is also taking place at least in the cities of Faro and Coimbra, since “it is in solidarity with the problems of these professionals and the discontent experienced in this sector.”
“The turnout was very large. Of course, there are more than 400 cars here, and I think that many more will arrive during the day at Avenida da Liberdade, where they will also be parked out of respect for the traffic flow in the city,” said Vitor Soares. .
According to the official, protest activists said that in other places where partners and drivers gather, participation is “also significant.”
In Faro, the airport protest is expected to end at 2 p.m.
Among the reasons for the protest is the cost of travel, which is “at the threshold of profitability for companies.”
“This is why we have received reports of drivers who are unable to stop 24 hours a day due to economic difficulties. They cannot stop for the whole day because the sustainability of companies and families is at risk,” he explained.
According to Vitor Soares, TVDE’s operating costs have “systematically increased over the past five years”, including “exorbitant prices” for insurance. The situation means drivers are “forced to work seven days a week, usually more than 12 hours a day.”
Protesters are demanding payment of a minimum of 0.70 cents per kilometer for each trip, and are also demanding payment of 50% of the kilometer of the trip until the customer is picked up in order for the driver to receive compensation.
Partners (companies that provide a centralized service on electronic platforms) and drivers also want to review Law 45/2018, remembering that they have already requested meetings with parties with seats in Parliament to present their proposals for amendments.
The National Movement Association (TVDE), which elected new governing bodies in March, currently has about 200 members and is in the process of recruiting new members.
According to the latest data from the Institute of Mobility and Transport (IMT) on March 6, the number of TVDE driving licenses registered in Portugal is 77,441.
A review of the law governing TVDE, scheduled for 2022, has yet to progress, five years after it came into force on November 1, 2018.
In 2023, the PS government led by António Costa delayed a review of the law governing the sector, expecting it to be completed this year, after the European Union’s TVDE directive became known.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
I’m Dave Martin, and I’m an experienced journalist working in the news industry. As a part of my work, I write for 24 News Reporters, covering mostly sports-related topics. With more than 5 years of experience as a journalist, I have written numerous articles on various topics to provide accurate information to readers.