Street vendors perform in Cinelândia for the regularization of workers

The United Movement of Street Vendors (Muca) and the national movement Workers Without Rights (TSD) held an act this Thursday (27) in Cinelândia, in the center of the capital of Rio de Janeiro, for the regularization of the category. The demonstration has the participation of representatives of social movements that support the cause of these workers. According to the organizers, the protest aims to pressure Mayor Eduardo Paes to receive street vendors and street vendors, as he had promised in an election campaign, in 2020. The agenda also includes ending the wave of violence against workers who are in the informal sector; regularization and decriminalization of category work; the creation of legalized deposits for the storage of equipment and goods from street vendors. The workers also ask for the withdrawal of guidelines referring to street vendors and street vendors from the Secretariat of Public Order (Seop) and transfer to the Municipal Secretariat of Labor and Income, so that they are recognized as workers. They also claim participation in decisions about the removal and relocation of these workers in public spaces. Representatives of the Movimento Unidos dos Camelôs and the national movement Workers Without Rights protest in Cinelândia – Tânia Rêgo/Agência Brasil The coordinator of Muca and TSD, Maria dos Camelôs, said that she has been trying to be received since the mayor took office, in January 2021 , unsuccessfully. According to her, the mayor becomes aware of the demonstrations and orders the Secretary of Public Order to deal with matters with the categories. “We are not leaving here until we are attended to by the mayor. No one is born a camel. We are on the streets because of high unemployment, food insecurity and to support our families. We want respect and defend the right to honest and organized work. Street vendors are workers, Eduardo Paes”, said Maria, in a note. City Hall of Rio The Secretariat for Public Order reported that it has maintained dialogue with representatives of street vendors in order to listen to the demands of the category and share with the group some initiatives already taken by the portfolio. “It is important to point out that Seop and GM-Rio have the legal prerogative to seize goods from illegal street vendors. Often, during the approach, the street vendors resist the action of the agents, attacking the teams, and a differentiated use of force is necessary. Seop informs that there are occurrences under analysis by the internal affairs department of the secretariat regarding possible excesses by the agents”, says the note. According to the secretariat, since 2021, 500 new licenses have been granted to street vendors, in addition to more than a thousand structures for work. Seop pointed out that it is constantly analyzing new possibilities for licenses for street traders. The report asked Rio City Hall for a position on the demand of the organizers of a meeting with Eduardo Paes, but did not receive a response until the close of the article.

Agência Brasil