Private passenger transport partners and unmarked vehicle drivers (TVDE) will demonstrate again on Thursday in some cities, “calling for attention and awareness” of platforms and the government about the situation in the sector.
About a month after the last protest, on April 5, drivers and partners planned demonstrations in Lisbon, Coimbra, Porto, Faro and Leiria for better working conditions, again with the institutional support of the Associação Movimento Nacional (AMN) – TVDE.
Speaking to Lusa, AMN-TVDE President Vitor Soares explained that the organization supports the demands and stands in solidarity with partners and drivers, adding that since the last protest, “there have been no serious responses” to the sector’s concerns.
“There are two new features on the list of demands, namely the issue of taxis in TVDE applications and the suspension of TVDE operator licenses until the revision of Law 45/2018,” said Vitor Soares.
According to Vitor Soares, in essence of what has become known as the Uber law, TVDEs are considered uncharacterized vehicles, meaning that “taxis that are considered public transport and are properly identified cannot be made available on the platforms,” and so far this Only Bolt has it. option.
“We have nothing against taxis, but we are in an unfair situation, given that taxis have various supports that TVDE does not,” he said, citing as an example 50% lower insurance prices or the fact that taxis have counters for waiting for customers.
Other issues that lead to the demonstration also include the desire to pay 50% of the mileage of the trip before meeting the client, given that the platforms sometimes distribute trips 10 kilometers from the meeting with the passenger without any compensation to the driver.
Partners and drivers are also asking for an increase in the current minimum fare per trip for customers by 4.25 euros for a distance of up to three kilometers, a reduction in the platform commission from 25% to 15% and control of licenses from the Institute of Mobility and Transport (Instituto da Mobilidade e dos Transportes) (IMT ) and that drivers take the test at IMT test centers throughout the country.
The group also intends to review Law 45/2018, reminding Vitor Soares that the association is already holding meetings with parties with seats in Parliament to present their proposals for amendments.
Demonstrations are planned in Lisbon, Coimbra, Porto, Faro and Leiria, while in the capital the gathering is scheduled to start at 7:00 am on Avenida Dom Joao V, in Amoreiras, before heading to Avenida da Liberdade, where they are expected to remain until 9 am. :00 pm.
In the Algarve, the rally will take place from 8:00 to 12:00 near Faro Airport and from 7:30 to 12:30 near the Algarve Stadium, while in Porto a protest is planned at Praça General Humberto Delgado, from 10:00 to 14:00 .
In Coimbra, the meeting is scheduled for 16:00 at Praça da Canção, before heading to City Hall at 18:00. In Leiria, the protest is scheduled to take place from 14:30 to 18:30 near the IMT.
Currently, the National Movement Association (TVDE), which elected new governing bodies in March, has about 200 members and is in the process of recruiting new members.
As of the latest data as of April 1, the number of TVDE driving licenses registered in Portugal, according to IMT, is 68,068.
There are 13 TVDE electronic platform operators licensed in Portugal, but only two are active (Bolt and Uber), the others being Its My Ride, Vemja, Tazzi, Chofer, Klibber, Mobiz, Tarine, Ixat, Leb, Plink and Just Easy Mob. !.
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
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